Copper Toxicosis Flashcards by Jen Whitmore

What are 2 forms of copper toxicosis?

Acute

- Chronic

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Is acute copper toxicosis common?

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the usual source of acute copper toxicosis?

Ingestion of high concentrations of copper

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Rapid onset of severe GI signs including vomiting, colic, hemorrhagic diarrhea, dehydration and shock, due to the direct corrosive action of copper are clinical signs for what type of toxicosis?

Acute copper toxicosis

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the treatment for acute copper toxicosis?

Supportive and symptomatic therapy

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are 3 potential sources for chronic copper toxicosis in sheep?

Excess copper
Molybdenum deficiency
Unavailability of sulfate

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are 4 sources of excess copper?

Feed additives
Natural copper in soils and plants
Soils contaminated by mining
soils fertilized with poultry litter or swine manure

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What is the normal copper/molybdenum ratio?

6:1

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Normally, molybdate binds to copper tissues at what ratio?
What do they form?
How is this excreted?

4:3
Copper molybdate
Readily excreted in urine

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Rumen sulfates and sulfites are reduced to what which binds to what, reducing its absorption?

Sulfides

- Copper

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Accumulation of copper in which organ is due to imbalances between copper, molybdenum and sulfate?

Liver

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What are normal feed and forage levels of copper in sheep?

10-20 ppm

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Normal feed and forage copper levels can cause copper accumulation in sheep with what 2 conditions?

Molybdenum is deficient (less than 1-2 ppm)

- Sulfate is unavailable

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

How long does it take for sufficient levels of copper to accumulate in sheep for chronic copper toxicosis?

2-10 weeks of exposure

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Liver damage can cause what?

What is this called?

Copper accumulation by hepatocytes

- Secondary copper toxicosis

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What may cause a sudden loss of copper from the liver to the blood?

Stress

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Where is copper absorbed from?

How is it carried to different tissues?

Intestines

- Carried by serum and RBCs

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What removes most of copper from the blood?

Liver

What are 3 things copper is bound to?

Hepatic lysosomes
Mitochondria
Nucleus

How is copper mainly excreted?

In bile

What are 2 things copper accumulation in the liver causes?

Liver degeneration

- Liver necrosis

What does release of copper from the liver and excess copper in blood cause?
What does this result in?

Oxidation of RBC membranes increasing their fragility

- Hemolytic crisis

What does copper also oxidize?

What is the result of this?

Hemoglobin to methemoglobin

- Can’t carry oxygen

Sudden onset of weakness, anorexia, pale mucous membranes, icterus, hemoglobinuria, fever, dyspnea and shock are clinical signs of what type of toxicosis?

Chronic copper toxicosis in sheep

How does the liver appear with chronic copper toxicosis in sheep? The kidneys?

- Enlarged, yellow and friable | - Enlarged, hemorrhagic, bluish-dark and friable (gunmetal kidneys)

How does the spleen appear with chronic copper toxicosis in sheep?

Enlarged and dark brown to black (blackberry jam spleen)

What is considered to be an elevated serum or whole blood copper level?

> 1.5 ppm

What is considered to be an elevated liver copper level? | Kidney copper level?

- > 150 ppm | - > 15 ppm

What are 2 liver enzymes that will be elevated 3-6 weeks before a hemolytic crisis?

- AST | - LDH

Sudden onset of hemoglobinuria, jaundice, signs of shock and respiratory insufficiency and lesions of hemolysis are part of the diagnosis of which toxicosis?

Chronic copper toxicosis in sheep

What are 4 differential diagnosis for chronic copper toxicosis in sheep?

- Hemolytic agents - Poisonous plants - Certain snake venom - Infectious diseases

What are 5 examples of hemolytic agents that need to be differentiated from chronic copper toxicosis in sheep?

- Zinc - Naphthalene - Phenolics - DMSO - Guaifenesin

What are 4 examples of poisonous plants that need to be differentiated from chronic copper toxicosis in sheep?

- Onion - Gossypol (cottonseed) - Red maple (Acer rubrum) - Mustard

What are 4 examples of infectious diseases that need to be differentiated from chronic copper toxicosis in sheep?

- Leptospirosis - Babesiosis - Anaplasmosis - Bacillary hemoglobinuria

What are 2 things that can be given to sheep for the treatment of chronic copper toxicosis?

- Ammonium tetrathiomolybate | - D-penicillamine

What can be sprayed on pastures at a rate of 4 oz/acre in an attempt to prevent chronic copper toxicosis in sheep?

Molybdenized copper phosphate

Sheep rations should contain what ratio of copper to molybdenum?

6:1

Molybdate can be added to sheep rations at what rate for prevention of chronic copper toxicosis in sheep?

2-4 ppm

What are 2 things that can be given to individual sheep daily to prevent chronic copper toxicosis?

- Ammonium molybdate | - Thiosulfate

What can be given to reduce hepatic copper accumulation?

Supplemental zinc (250 ppm)

Chronic copper toxicosis in dogs is mainly seen in what breed? At what age? Due to what?

- Bedlington terrier - 2-6 years - Autosomal recessive disorder

What are 3 other breeds that can be susceptible to chronic copper toxicosis?

- West Highland White terriers - Sky terriers - Doberman pinscher

Excess free copper causes chronic active hepatitis and liver necrosis due to what?

Lipid peroxidation of mitochondrial membranes

Is hemolytic crisis due to sudden release of copper more or less likely in dogs compared to sheep?

Less likely