Ammonia toxicity from urea in a Brazilian dairy goat flock.
A flock of goats received a diet with 1% urea for at least 1 y. A new batch of concentrate was offered increasing the level of urea to 4.2%. Eighteen of 54 goats showed acute signs of ammonia toxicosis. Ten goats died within 60 min; 4 goats and a buck with convulsions recovered when treated by administration of vinegar and infusion of saline solution, diuretics, and atropine. Three goats with mild signs recovered within 1 h without treatment. The mean ammonia concentration and rumen pH content were 820 mg/L and 7.7, respectively. Generalized congestion, intense pulmonary edema, and slight tubular nephrosis were found in 3 goats on necropsy. The outbreak was self-limiting and no more cases occurred when the diet was removed.
Ortolani
E L
EL
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Mori
C S
CS
Rodrigues Filho
J A
JA
D000641:Ammonia / Q000506:poisoning*; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001711:Biotransformation; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000401:mortality; D006041:Goats; D015996:Survival Rate; D014508:Urea / Q000506:poisoning*
D000641:Ammonia; D014508:Urea