title: An assessment of the toxicity of parenteral treatment with copper EDTA and copper heptonate in sheep.
abstract: The toxicity of 2 parenteral copper (Cu) supplements was investigated. Di-sodium copper ethylene diamino tetra acetate (Cu EDTA) and Cu heptonate were administered to sheep (n = 9) by a single subcutaneous injection at a concentration of 0,2, 1 and 2 mg Cu/kg each (Trial 1.) Nine sheep were untreated and served as controls. The same treatments were applied to 2 sheep each (Trial 2) with the addition of 3 mg Cu/kg live body mass as Cu heptonate, and Cu heptonate administered intravenously at rates of 0,2, 0,4 and 0,6 mg Cu/kg live body mass. In Trial 1, 67% of the sheep treated with Cu EDTA at 2 mg Cu/kg live body mass died within 3 to 17 d after treatment, while no mortalities occurred in sheep where Cu heptonate was administered at the same dosage rate and even at 3 mg Cu/kg live body mass (P < or = 0,01). Post-mortem examination suggested acute Cu toxicity in all cases. Liver Cu concentrations were markedly increased (P < or = 0,05) by both supplements in groups of 3 treated sheep slaughtered over a 3-month period compared to control animals. The liver Cu concentrations of sheep that succumbed to Cu toxicity were within the normal range of 100 to 450 mg/kg DM. Results from Trial 2 suggested that the 2 sheep treated with 2 mg Cu/kg live body mass as Cu EDTA, experienced a haemolytic crisis between 5 and 11 d after treatment, resulting in the death of one of these sheep. The haemolytic crisis was characterised by a severe decrease in haemoglobin concentration and haematocrit.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Human and Animal Physiology, University of Stellenbosch, Republic of South Africa.
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Van Niekerk
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Cloete
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Coetzer
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Du Plessis
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Wellington
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003300:Copper / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012756:Sheep / Q000378:metabolism; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D003300:Copper; D004492:Edetic Acid