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Copper toxicosis in dairy goats
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
<http://avmajournals.avma.org/loi/javma>
August 15, 2007, Vol. 231, No. 4, Pages 586-589
Copper toxicosis in a dairy goat herd
Jennifer Cornish, DVM, DACVIM; John Angelos, DVM, PhD, DACVIM; Birgit
Puschner, DVM, PhD, DACVT; Grant Miller, DVM; Lisle George, DVM, PhD,
DACVIM
Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine,
University of California, Davis, CA 95616 (Cornish, Angelos, George);
California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, University
of California, Davis, CA 95616 (Puschner); Sonoma Marin Veterinary
Service, 1120 Industrial Ave, Ste 13 and 14, Petaluma, CA 94952 (Miller)
Address correspondence to Dr. Cornish.
*Case Description*-A closed herd of 400 mixed-breed dairy goats was
examined because of a decrease in milk production and increase in
mortality rate. Nine animals had died within a 1-month period.
*Clinical Findings*-Clinical signs were evident only in lactating goats
and included anorexia and recumbency. In the most severely affected
goats, signs progressed to neurologic abnormalities and death. Serum
aspartate aminotransferase activity, ?-glutamyltransferase activity, and
total bilirubin concentration were high in clinically affected does, but
no evidence of hemolysis was found. A diagnosis of copper toxicosis was
made on the basis of high liver and kidney copper concentrations and
histologic evidence of hepatic necrosis. Goats were found to have been
fed a mineral mix containing 3,050 ppm copper for 9 months prior to the
onset of copper toxicosis. Overall, there was no consistent relationship
between serum hepatic enzyme activities, serum copper concentration, and
liver copper concentration.
*Treatment and Outcome*-Clinically affected goats were treated with
penicillamine, ammonium molybdate, sodium thiosulfate, and vitamin E.
Penicillamine increased urine copper excretion in treated does versus
untreated control animals. An increased incidence of infectious disease
was identified in the herd 9 months later. Liver vitamin E concentration
was low in 10 of the 12 goats that underwent necropsy.
*Clinical Relevance*-Findings suggested that penicillamine may be an
effective treatment for goats with copper toxicosis. Production losses
months after the diagnosis was made suggested that the intoxication had
a prolonged animal welfare and economic impacts.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
<http://avmajournals.avma.org/loi/javma>
August 15, 2007, Vol. 231, No. 4, Pages 586-589
Copper toxicosis in a dairy goat herd
Jennifer Cornish, DVM, DACVIM; John Angelos, DVM, PhD, DACVIM; Birgit
Puschner, DVM, PhD, DACVT; Grant Miller, DVM; Lisle George, DVM, PhD,
DACVIM
Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine,
University of California, Davis, CA 95616 (Cornish, Angelos, George);
California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, University
of California, Davis, CA 95616 (Puschner); Sonoma Marin Veterinary
Service, 1120 Industrial Ave, Ste 13 and 14, Petaluma, CA 94952 (Miller)
Address correspondence to Dr. Cornish.
*Case Description*-A closed herd of 400 mixed-breed dairy goats was
examined because of a decrease in milk production and increase in
mortality rate. Nine animals had died within a 1-month period.
*Clinical Findings*-Clinical signs were evident only in lactating goats
and included anorexia and recumbency. In the most severely affected
goats, signs progressed to neurologic abnormalities and death. Serum
aspartate aminotransferase activity, ?-glutamyltransferase activity, and
total bilirubin concentration were high in clinically affected does, but
no evidence of hemolysis was found. A diagnosis of copper toxicosis was
made on the basis of high liver and kidney copper concentrations and
histologic evidence of hepatic necrosis. Goats were found to have been
fed a mineral mix containing 3,050 ppm copper for 9 months prior to the
onset of copper toxicosis. Overall, there was no consistent relationship
between serum hepatic enzyme activities, serum copper concentration, and
liver copper concentration.
*Treatment and Outcome*-Clinically affected goats were treated with
penicillamine, ammonium molybdate, sodium thiosulfate, and vitamin E.
Penicillamine increased urine copper excretion in treated does versus
untreated control animals. An increased incidence of infectious disease
was identified in the herd 9 months later. Liver vitamin E concentration
was low in 10 of the 12 goats that underwent necropsy.
*Clinical Relevance*-Findings suggested that penicillamine may be an
effective treatment for goats with copper toxicosis. Production losses
months after the diagnosis was made suggested that the intoxication had
a prolonged animal welfare and economic impacts.