Clinical Observation on Chronic Copper Poisoning in Sheep
1979 Volume 32 Issue 1 Pages 11-16
Details
1979 Volume 32 Issue 1 Pages 11-16
On a farm in Hokkaido, 13 sheep were affected with chronic copper poisoning over a period of 1975 to 1977. They manifested sudden depression and anorexia, anemia, jaundice, and hemoglobinuria to die after a course of 1-7 days. Biochemical tests gave results indicating the presence of high dysfunction of liver and kidney.
The copper contents of serum, liver, and kidney were about 10.3, 4.8, and 14.9 times, respectively, as large as those of normal sheep. Histopathological examination revealed centralized or diffuse pimelosis accompanied with incomplete necrosis, severe biliary stagnation, and serious nephrotic changes. The causes of poisoning seemed to consist in pasture grass and litter contaminated with copper sulfate used for medicated foot bath.
