Acute lead poisoning with eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in calves on a farm receiving land application of sewage sludge.
A total of 3 cases of acute lead poisoning in calves was confirmed by atomic absorption spectrophotometric analysis of biological samples, presence of an acute lead exposure source, clinical signs of impaired vision in one case and eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in another case. One of two other calves which died approximately 2 months earlier had nervous signs and it is likely that they also had lead poisoning. Dams of two of the cases did not have elevated lead levels. Municipal sewage sludge had been applied to most fields on the farm during the preceding 5 year period. There had been approximately a doubling of the lead content in the soil; however, the foodstuffs produced on the farm had low lead concentrations. The extremely high lead levels in the abomasal contents and feces of calves eliminated sludge as the source of the lead in this acute poisoning episode. The contents of oil filters, accessible to calves but not to adult cattle, had lead levels as high as 26,922 micrograms/g and was the most likely lead source responsible for this lead intoxication. It appears that the manifestation of eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in lead poisoning cases may occur in young calves as well as in cows and in acute as well as in chronic intoxications.
Dorn
C R
CR
Tuomari
D
D
Reddy
C
C
Logan
T J
TJ
D000208:Acute Disease; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis; D012722:Sewage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000506:poisoning*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis
D008670:Metals; D012722:Sewage; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants