An assessment of the safety of copper heptonate for parenteral therapy in sheep

OBJECTIVE: To investigate any adverse effects of an intramuscular injection (i.m.) of copper heptonate (CuHep) in sheep. PROCEDURE: Merino wethers about 9 months old were retained in pens and given 1 or 2 mg Cu/kg body weight as CuHep or no Cu treatment. Sheep were weighed and samples of blood for haematology, Cu and enzyme assay and tissues for Cu and Fe assay were collected before and at intervals over 21 days after treatment. RESULTS: CuHep was removed from the injection site within 7 days of treatment and most of it was retained in the liver. Wethers had adequate liver Cu reserves before treatment and the higher dosage of CuHep raised liver Cu to values associated with Cu toxicity. No clinical signs of Cu toxicity were evident. Transient increases in plasma activity of the liver enzyme glutamate dehydrogenase suggested mild liver necrosis due to CuHep, but there was no histopathological evidence of liver necrosis 7 days after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: I.m. injection of Cu as CuHep appears to be readily transferred to the liver. No significant necrosis is caused at the injection site.     

Comparison between parenterally administered copper complexes of their ability to alleviate hypocupraemia in sheep and cattle

In a comparison of four parenteral copper preparations for sheep administered at similar dose rates, copper as diethylamine oxyquinoline sulphonate (copper DOS) was found to alleviate hypocupraemia in ewes more consistently than copper calcium EDTA and copper-methionate, given in a cream (C) or aqueous base (A). In similar comparisons of preparations for cattle, copper calcium EDTA was 19 per cent more effective than copper DOS and 36 to 48 per cent more effective than copper methionate (A). Methionate preparations were characterised by marked reactions at and slow translocation from the site of injection whereas copper DOS was rapidly translocated and gave little or no tissue reaction in sheep or cattle. Attributes of an improved parenteral copper preparation are discussed in the light of disadvantages of existing preparations.     

Incidence of hypocupraemia in cattle in the east Midlands

Serum copper values were determined on composite samples from cattle herds in the Midland counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire. Sampling took place over a period of 17 months and the results indicate that hypocupraemia existed in many herds. The lowest values were found in heifer group samples and the lowest of these was found in Derbyshire. The geographical and management factors which may affect the copper status of herds in this area are discussed.     

Comparison of copper heptonate with copper oxide wire particles as copper supplements for sheep on pasture of high molybdenum content

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of intramuscular injection of copper heptonate (CuHep) and an oral dose of copper oxide wire particles (COWP) in preventing Cu inadequacy in adult and young sheep on pasture of high Mo content. DESIGN: Field experiments with flocks of mature Merino wethers and crossbred weaners. PROCEDURE: Adult wethers were given 25 or 37.5 mg Cu as CuHep, 2.5 g COWP or no Cu treatment. The weaners were given 12.5 or 25 mg Cu as CuHep, 1.25 g COWP or no Cu treatment. At intervals over the next 12 (adults) or 8 (weaners) months the sheep were weighed and samples of blood and liver were collected for trace element assay. Wool samples collected from the adults at the end of the experiment were assessed for physical characteristics. RESULTS: The higher dosage of CuHep raised liver Cu above control group values for at least 9 months in adults and 3 months in weaners. The lower dosage of CuHep was similarly effective for 3 months in adults but was without effect in weaners. In adults the response to COWP matched that to the higher dosage of CuHep; in weaners it was greater, lasting at least 5 months. No changes indicative of Cu deficiency, apart from a depressed body weight in adults, were seen. CONCLUSIONS: In sheep on pasture of high Mo content a single intramuscular injection of CuHep providing 37.5 mg Cu to adults or 25 mg Cu to weaners will raise liver Cu reserves for at least 9 and 3 months respectively and may be an acceptable alternative to COWP for preventing seasonal Cu deficiency in sheep in southern Australia.     

Copper supplementation of sheep

The effect of 6 methods of copper supplementation on copper status was examined in Merino sheep at pasture. Plasma copper concentrations were not affected by any of the treatments. Liver copper concentrations in sheep given an oral dose of 3 g of oxidised copper wire particles were significantly greater than those of untreated sheep for the duration of the experiment of 80 weeks. Subcutaneous injections of 18 mg of copper as diethylamino cupro -oxyquinoline sulphonate produced small, transient increases in liver copper. Single oral doses of 150 mg of copper as copper sulphate or 30 mg of copper as copper oxychloride produced little or no detectable increase in liver copper. Liver copper concentrations of untreated sheep were lowest in winter, apparently associated with increased damage to the abomasum, as indicated by raised plasma pepsinogen activities.     

Copper poisoning in a flock of sheep. Copper excretion patterns after treatment with molybdenum and sulfur or penicillamine

During an outbreak of chronic copper poisoning, fecal and urinary copper excretion were measured following treatment with molybdenum and sulfur supplementation of the feed (0.1 g ammonium molybdate plus 1 g sodium sulfate/sheep/day) or oral penicillamine (50 mg/kg bodyweight/day) using rams in metabolism cages. Serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase activities and liver levels of molybdenum and copper in sheep that died were also monitored. Within four days of starting molybdenum and sulfur supplementation a highly significant increase in fecal copper excretion was evident and the increase persisted throughout the monitoring period (five weeks — general treatment of the flock continued for another three weeks). There was no effect of the molybdenum and sulfur supplementation on urinary excretion of copper. The molybdenum and sulfur supplementation was very effective, resulting in a rapid marked decrease in mortality. Oral penicillamine treatment induced cupruresis but did not affect fecal copper excretion. The results indicated that, while the cost of penicillamine may be a limiting factor for general treatment of a flock, it may be the drug of choice for the therapy of valuable breeding animals because cupruresis may be accurately and individually controlled. Serum glutamicoxaloacetic transaminase activities were a valuable aid in diagnosing chronic copper toxicosis as well as for monitoring recovery. High initial liver copper levels were gradually reduced following molybdenum and sulfur treatment. However, at the end of the study the liver copper levels of dead sheep varied within wide limits and there were still some sheep with high liver copper levels.     

Copper toxicity in sheep: the effects of repeated intravenous injections of copper sulphate

Four Clun Forest, Suffolk cross sheep were given daily intravenous injections of copper sulphate. Three similar sheep acted as controls. The copper dosed sheep developed haemolysis and showed liver, kidney and brain damage similar to that seen in chronic copper poisoning. All animals survived for 30 days and two would have lived longer. Reticulocytes were produced after four days and continued to be produced, sometimes in high number throughout the course of the experiment.     

Sea water in the treatment of inanition in sheep

Extract

Inanition continues to be the major cause of mortality for sheep transported by sea from New Zealand to Saudi Arabia⁽¹⁾.     

夏洛莱羊流产的病因及治疗方法

几年来，阜蒙县的肉羊产业发展迅速，引进许多肉羊品种，但在生产过程中发现，夏洛莱羊只在同等饲养管理条件下，经常会出现母畜在妊娠中期，胚胎在子宫内被吸收或者从子宫中排出死亡的、不足月的胎儿，或者导致胎儿早期产出的情况，这种现象通常称为非传染性流产。该病在1．5-2岁的怀孕母羊中发病率较高，母羊多在孕后2个月左右发生流产，发病前无特殊先兆，只表现为神态反常，有时呜叫，并伴有腹痛，外阴部流出少量液状物。     

Copper, zinc and iron levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of copper poisoned sheep

Copper, zinc and iron levels were measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of normal and copper poisoned sheep. Copper values were within the range recorded for humans but zinc levels were six to 20 times and iron levels were 20 to 30 times higher than values reported for humans. The amount of copper, zinc and iron in the CSF did not increase in sheep dosed with copper and hence it is unlikely that the level of copper in the CSF is related to the changes in the nervous system that have been reported in copper poisoned sheep.