RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF CHRONIC COPPER POISONING IN SHEEP

A retrospective survey was conducted on 112 cases of chronic copper poisoning in sheep diagnosed at the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory over a six year period. Animals that died with signs and lesions of a hemolytic crisis had mean (± SD) liver and kidney copper concentrations of 268.5±100.4 ppm and 49.9±36.2 ppm (wet weight), respectively. Kidney values were increased from normal values more consistently than liver values in animals that died with signs of a hemolytic crisis; thus, kidney is considered the tissue of choice when measurement of only one organ is requested. Analysis of 35 feed samples revealed ratios of copper:molybdenum greater than 10:1. This report also addresses recent findings on the pathogenesis and kinetics of chronic copper poisoning and the different treatment protocols recommended.

[1]  E. Humann-Ziehank,et al.  Effects of D-penicillamine on urinary copper excretion in high-copper supplemented sheep. , 2001, Journal of veterinary medicine. A, Physiology, pathology, clinical medicine.

[2]  M. Ganter,et al.  Long-term observation of subclinical chronic copper poisoning in two sheep breeds. , 2001, Journal of veterinary medicine. A, Physiology, pathology, clinical medicine.

[3]  T. Müller,et al.  Copper‐associated liver disease in North Ronaldsay sheep: a possible animal model for non‐Wilsonian hepatic copper toxicosis of infancy and childhood , 2001, The Journal of pathology.

[4]  K. Suzuki,et al.  Excretion of copper complexed with thiomolybdate into the bile and blood in LEC rats. , 2000, Chemico-biological interactions.

[5]  K. Suzuki,et al.  Targeting of tetrathiomolybdate on the copper accumulating in the liver of LEC rats. , 1998, Journal of inorganic biochemistry.

[6]  N. Auza,et al.  Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in erythrocytes from chronically copper-poisoned sheep. , 1996, Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part C, Pharmacology, toxicology & endocrinology.

[7]  A. Zdragas,et al.  Copper concentrations in sheep liver and kidney in Greece. , 1996, Veterinary and human toxicology.

[8]  Van Ryssen Jb.  The effectiveness of using supplementary zinc and molybdenum to reduce the copper content in the liver of hypercuprotic sheep. , 1994 .

[9]  J. van Ryssen.  The effectiveness of using supplementary zinc and molybdenum to reduce the copper content in the liver of hypercuprotic sheep. , 1994, Journal of the South African Veterinary Association.

[10]  M. C. Williams,et al.  The cupruretic effect of two chelators following copper loading in sheep. , 1993, Veterinary and human toxicology.

[11]  H. Stahr.  Analytical Methods in Toxicology , 1991 .

[12]  J. Kumaratilake,et al.  Intravenously administered tetra-thiomolybdate and the removal of copper from the liver of copper-loaded sheep. , 1989, Journal of comparative pathology.

[13]  P. Morrice,et al.  A convenient method for the treatment of chronic copper poisoning in sheep using subcutaneous ammonium tetrathiomolybdate , 1988, Veterinary Record.

[14]  C. Manso,et al.  Mechanisms of hemolysis induced by copper. , 1988, Free radical research communications.

[15]  M. Hidiroglou,et al.  Copper poisoning in a flock of sheep. Copper excretion patterns after treatment with molybdenum and sulfur or penicillamine. , 1984, The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne.

[16]  A. Dick.  The control of copper storage in the liver of sheep by inorganic sulphate and molybdenum. , 1953 .

[17]  A. Dick,et al.  Some preliminary observations on the effect of molybdenum on copper metabolism in herbivorous animals. , 1945, Australian veterinary journal.