Chronic copper poisoning in beef cattle in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil

Abstract

Copper is an essential micromineral in animal feed; however, when consumed in excess, it can cause liver necrosis, hemolytic crisis, hemoglobinuric nephrosis and death in cattle. Although uncommon in this species, copper poisoning occurs as a result of exacerbated supplementation, deficiency of antagonist microminerals, or previous liver lesions. An outbreak of chronic copper poisoning is reported in semi-confined cattle after supplementation with 50 mg/Kg of dry matter copper. The cattle showed clinical signs characterized by anorexia, motor incoordination, loss of balance, jaundice, brownish or black urine, diarrhea and death, or were found dead, 10 to 302 days after consumption. Of the 35 cattle that died, 20 underwent necropsy, whose frequent findings were jaundice, enlarged liver with evident lobular pattern, black kidneys, and urinary bladder with brownish to blackish content. Microscopically, the liver showed vacuolar degeneration and/or zonal hepatocellular centrilobular or paracentral coagulative necrosis, in addition to cholestasis, mild periacinal fibrosis, apoptotic bodies, and mild to moderate mononuclear inflammation. Degeneration and necrosis of the tubular epithelium and intratubular hemoglobin cylinders were observed in the kidneys. Copper levels in the liver and kidneys ranged from 5,901.24 to 28,373.14 μmol/kg and from 303.72 to 14,021 μmol/kg, respectively. In conclusion, copper poisoning due to excessive nutritional supplementation is an important cause of jaundice, hemoglobinuria, and death in semi-confined cattle.

Acute necrotic hepatotoxicity caused by Lantana camara L. ingestion in dairy cattle

“…poisoning. Also, copper poisoning in cattle is associated with copper supplementation, which was not performed in the animals of this study, and have lesions related to intravascular hemolysis, a feature not present in the current cases (Martins et al 2020). Thus, L. camara L. poisoning must be considered as a differential diagnosis in cases of acute necrotic hepatopathy in cattle, despite the absence of photosensitization.…”

Emerging insights into the impacts of heavy metals exposure on health, reproductive and productive performance of livestock

“…Research on the impacts of heavy metals exposure on the health, reproductive, and productive performance of livestock has garnered significant attention in recent years. Several published reviews have explored the diverse effects of heavy metals such as Pb, Cd, Hg, and As on various aspects of livestock physiology and productivity ( Martinez et al, 2020 ; Sun et al, 2022 ; Duffy et al, 2023 ; Sadeghian et al, 2024 ). These reviews have elucidated the mechanisms by which heavy metals enter the animal body, their accumulation in tissues, and the resultant adverse effects on health.…”

“…Toxic levels in liver and kidneys are >250 ppm and 10 ppm in cattle, and >250 ppm and >18 ppm in sheep ( Lopez-Alonso et al, 2006 ; Dalefield, 2017 ). Treatment involves using Mo and chelating agents ( Antonelli et al, 2016 ; Mecitoglu et al, 2017 ; Martins et al, 2020 ). Zn supplementation is effective in preventing excessive Cu accumulation in sheep ( Minervino et al, 2009 ).…”