Lead poisoning in calves due to old white lead paint

A case of poisoning by chronic ingestion of lead in calves with a peracute clinical course is described. The source of lead was a prime coat of white lead on old white painted doors. These doors originated from an institution for aged people and had been used as pen walls for fattening calves. About 12 weeks later five animals died within hours after onset of CNS-symptoms. The post mortem examination of three animals revealed one with multifocal laminar edema and mild vasculitis in the cerebrocortex, one with acid fast intranuclear inclusion bodies in the renal tubular epithelial cells and one without lesions. Liver, kidney and abomasal contents of two animals were analysed for lead content. The concentration was diagnostic for lead poisoning in one case only.