Parenteral methods of supplementation with copper and selenium

Abstract

Parenteral treatments can provide a rapid successful method of supplementing ruminants with copper and selenium, and avoid the possible interactions between an oral supplement and other dietary constituents. The copper preparations studied contained copper complexed with calcium edetate (EDTA) or copper methionate , copper oxide or copper oxyquinoline sulphonate. The recommended doses of these commercial preparations contain different amounts of copper only part of which is transferred to the liver stores from which it can be released during the following months. The recommended dose of copper oxyquinoline sulphonate contains only 12 mg copper and the duration of its protective effect is short. Only a small proportion of the copper in copper methionate and copper oxide is transferred to the liver whereas nearly all the copper in a single dose of the EDTA complex (50 mg copper for sheep) is transferred to the liver stores. Although no longer recommended for use in sheep the copper EDTA complex can be administered to cattle to provide up to 1 mg copper/kg bodyweight. Selenium deficiency in both cattle and sheep can be corrected by the subcutaneous administration of up to 0.15 mg selenium/kg bodyweight as sodium selenate. However, if a dietary deficiency persists copper and selenium treatments are effective for only a few months. To avoid the need for repeated treatments, slowly dissolving or controlled release systems have been developed. Subcutaneous depots of barium selenate have been used (1 mg selenium/kg bodyweight) but large residues remained at the site of injection for up to three months. Initial trials with controlled release glasses containing copper have shown that they maybe useful for routine parenteral therapy.

Stimulation of growth by intravenous injection of copper in weanling pigs

“…They used subcutaneous injections of cupric glycinate, but pigs developed severe abscesses at the sites of injection, and the injections had to be discontinued. The toxicity of subcutaneously injected Cu has also been shown in sheep and cattle and is unlikely to be avoided by using other forms of Cu (Allen and Mallinson, 1984). In a pilot experiment, daily intravenous injections of a Cu histidinate solution given to weanling pigs were found to produce no obvious abnormalities around sites of injection, and injected pigs performed well.…”

Assessment of Cu-Zn EDTA Parenteral Toxicity in Calves

“…The lethal factor in iatrogenic poisoning is the transference Cu rate from the injection site to the liver, and it also depends on the milligrams per kilogram of body weight (kg BW) administrated [7]. There are salts which are slowly released minimizing the death risk, but can cause local reactions in the administration site and they are not efficient to generate Cu liver storage [8]. Both inconveniences can be solved administrating soluble salts, such as Cu edetate; however, they have a narrow margin between safety and adverse toxic effects [6].…”

Renal cortex copper concentration in acute copper poisoning in calves

“…However, it can also be toxic, mainly for the liver, when accumulate in excessive quantities (Allen & Mallinson 1984, Galey et al 1991, Sullivan et al 1991, Minervino et al 2008. Parenteral supplementation with Cu injectable salts is a rapid, low-cost and simple method to compensate the animal's Cu status, when the diet does not provide enough (Allen & Mallinson 1984). On the other hand, parenterally injected salts are stored in liver, avoiding intestinal interference of other compounds, such as molybdenum, iron and sulphur (Underwood & Suttle 1999, Rosa & Mattioli 2001.…”