Chronic Copper Toxicosis in Sheep Following the Use of Copper Sulfate as a Fungicide on Fruit Trees

Abstract

Abstract. Between January and October 2006, 15 Chios sheep died in a field located near a factory in Orhangazi, Bursa, Turkey. In addition, in May 2007, 2 ewes died after aborting in the same field. Clinical signs in affected animals prior to death were anorexia, hematuria, icterus, incoordination, and ptyalism. Postmortem findings included generalized icterus; yellow, friable livers; distended gallbladders with dense, dark bile; and dark, hypertrophic kidneys with hemorrhage. Copper (Cu) concentrations were measured in multiple specimens of the following: 9 sera, 3 livers, 3 kidneys, 4 plants (including 2 artichoke leaf specimens), 3 soil samples, and 1 drinking water sample. High Cu concentrations were present in the livers, kidneys, and sera of dead sheep, as well as in the vegetation and soil samples from the field. Chronic Cu toxicosis was confirmed as the cause of death attributed primarily to the use of copper sulfate as a fungicide for fruit trees within the field. In addition, factory dust containing Cu might have been an additional factor in the toxicosis.

Intoxicação crônica por cobre em ovinos: conduta para o diagnóstico conclusivo

“…Esses mesmos sinais foram descritos por Riet-Correa et al (1989), Méndez (2001), Gaetke e Chow (2003), Ortolani (2003), Oruc et al (2009), Rissi et al (2010. Há aproximadamente oito meses, os ovinos da propriedade receberam sal mineral para bovinos.…”

“…Na intoxicação crônica por cobre, os achados macroscópicos dependem da evolução do quadro clínico-patológico, mas, nos casos relatados por Riet-Correa et al (1989), Méndez (2001), Ortolani (2003), Soares (2004), Castro et al (2007), Ribeiro et al (2007), Headley et al (2008), Giadinis et al (2009), Oruc et al (2009), Rissi et al (2010, as alterações encontradas foram semelhantes às descritas neste caso. As lesões microscópicas observadas no ovino deste caso ocorreram principalmente no fígado e nos rins, assim como relatado por Riet-Correa et al (1989), Mendéz (2001, Soares (2004), Rissi et al (2010), em relatos de intoxicação crônica por cobre.…”

“…Neste caso, os níveis de cobre foram superiores a 500mg/kg ps no fígado (1850mg/kg ps), como descrito por Riet-Correa et al (1989), Soares (2004), Mendéz (2001), em quadros de intoxicação por cobre, e superiores a 26-61mg/kg ps no rim (72mg/kg ps), como encontrado por Oruc et al (2009) e Gooneratne et al (1980. É importante ressaltar que a análise toxicológica é ferramenta diagnóstica fundamental para a confirmação da intoxicação, pois permite a identificação e, principalmente, a quantificação do elemento suspeito (Lemos et al, 1997).…”

Fungicides and Their Effects on Animals

“…Poisonings related with copper containing fungicides are important to livestock (Oruc et. al., 2009) and pets (Albo & Nebbia, 2004) especially sheep due to contaminated forage and feeds, and careless (Oruc et. al., 2009).…”

“…However, fungicides frequently used around the home constitute a major hazard to pets and livestock due to accidents, carelessness, or deliberate misuse (Osweiler et al, 1985;Gupta & Aggarwal, 2007;Oruc et al, 2009). For example, fungicides have caused systemic poisoning in animals such as sheep (Garcia-Fernández et al, 1996;Ortolani et al, 2004;Oruc et al, 2009), poultry (Guitart et al, 1996(Guitart et al, & 1999, and humans (Israeli et al, 1983;Kintz et al, 1997;Chodorowski, 2003;Kayacan et al, 2007;Calvert et al, 2008;Mortazavi & Jafari-Javid, 2009). Incorrect application and failure to use protective gear while applying fungicides are probably responsible for a disproportionate number of irritant injuries to skin and mucous membranes, as well as dermal sensitization.…”