Chronic copper poisoning of sheep in Nigeria.
An outbreak of chronic copper poisoning in sheep is described. At least 145 out of 687 sheep (21.1%) on a government farm died during a period of 2 months. The clinical and post-mortem picture was one of sudden, profound intravascular haemolysis and subsequent jaundice. Mortality approached 100%. Plasma copper levels ranged from 22 to 76 mumol/litre. There was no obvious source of exogenous copper. Possible causes of the elevated copper levels are discussed.
D000818:Animals; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D009549:Nigeria; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology
D006454:Hemoglobins; D003300:Copper