Mensuração sérica de minerais e avaliação clínica de bovinos acometidos por "mal da ronca" na região norte do estado do Rio de Janeiro Minerais serum levei and clinicai evaluation of bovines suffering from "mal da ronca" in north region of Rio de Janeiro state

"Mal da ronca", "ronca", "roncadeira", "mal do roncado" or "mal da ronqueira", as called, is a chronicle pathological condition characterized by a respiratory noise audible from distance that affects zebu cattle of both sexes, with more than 18 months of age. Affected animais carne from regions with rain water concentration in the ground, where the caUle fed and drunk water. Some animais showed a misshaping in the nasal region, more accurately in the chamfer. Besides poor oxygenation and consequently an inability to walk and feed, a progressive emaciation was observed, in some cases the anima!s dead. The calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, chloride and cupper serum levei were evaluated in a health and a sick bovines group, carne from the same region. Sick animais didn't show serum mineral deficiency, but, the significative difference between sick and health animais group suggested mineral desbalance.