Bush sickness

Cobalt is one of twenty-seven known elements essential to humans (28) (see Mineral NUTRIENTS). It is an integral part of the cyanocobalamin [68-19-9] molecule, ie, vitamin B 2> only documented biochemically active cobalt component in humans (29,30) (see Vitamins, VITAMIN Vitamin B 2 is not synthesized by animals or higher plants, rather the primary source is bacterial flora in the digestive system of sheep and cattle (8). Except for humans, nonmminants do not appear to requite cobalt. Humans have between 2 and 5 mg of vitamin B22, and deficiency results in the development of pernicious anemia. The wasting disease in sheep and cattle is known as bush sickness in New Zealand, salt sickness in Florida, pine sickness in Scotland, and coast disease in AustraUa. These are essentially the same symptomatically, and are caused by cobalt deficiency. Symptoms include initial lack of appetite followed by scaliness of skin, lack of coordination, loss of flesh, pale mucous membranes, and retarded growth. The total laboratory synthesis of vitamin B 2 was completed in 65—70 steps over a period of eleven years (31). The complex stmcture was reported by Dorothy Crowfoot-Hodgkin in 1961 (32) for which she was awarded a Nobel prize in 1964. 

Cobalt deficiency Historically a concern in farm animals, e.g., bush sickness in New Zealand cured by adding cobalt to soil fertilizers. 

A number of disorders of cattle and sheep, characterised by emaciation, anaemia and listlessness, have been recognised for many years and have been described as pining , salt sick , bush sickness and wasting disease . These disorders occur in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the USA. In the UK, pining pastures occur in many counties and are particularly common in the border counties of England and Scotland. 

Leaves yellow stems die back. Cause Currant borers. As spring growth begins, you can easily spot borer-infested canes because the leaves look weak and sickly. Currant borers spend the winter in canes, pupate in the spring, and emerge as moths to reinfect currant bushes. The easiest control is to cut out and destroy infested canes as soon as you notice them. 

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