title: Nitrate toxicosis in beef and dairy cattle herds due to contamination of drinking water and whey.
abstract: Four cases of rarely reported nitrate toxicosis due to contamination of drinking water or whey were recorded in 2 beef and 2 dairy cattle herds. In the cases associated with water contamination, water containing ammonium nitrate as a fertilizer for irrigating orchards accidentally entered drinking water troughs for cattle through malfunctioning 1-way valves. The whey contamination in 1 instance was caused by transportation in containers which contained traces of concentrated ammonium nitrate; the 2nd case was induced by whey derived from the production of a specialty cheese produced by the incorporation of nitrate. Mortality occurred in 2 herds and abortions in the 2 other herds. Affected cows responded well to treatment, but some animals remained in a deteriorated physical condition for several months.
authors.affiliation: Hachaklait Gedera, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yeruham
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shlosberg
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hanji
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bellaiche
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marcus
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liberboim
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning; D000818:Animals; D000931:Antidotes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005506:Food Contamination; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000032:analysis; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000662:veterinary*; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000662:veterinary*; D008460:Meat; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008892:Milk; D009566:Nitrates / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning
chemical_list: D000931:Antidotes; D009566:Nitrates; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008751:Methylene Blue; C006568:ammonium nitrate