Acute lead intoxication in a pregnant mare.
Lead (Pb) intoxication in horses is usually a chronic phenomenon with clinical signs associated with central nervous dysfunction. This report gives details of a case of acute Pb intoxication in a 9-year-old American Saddlebred mare with severe, progressive and ultimately fatal neurological deterioration. During the 4 days of hospitalisation, clinical signs progressed from intermittent headshaking and depression to severe, continuous, uncontrollable manic behaviour. At autopsy, three grey-coloured, hard metal particles were present in the gastrointestinal tract and subsequently found to contain 2614 ppm Pb. Lead concentrations in the brain, liver, stomach and kidney were 29, 4, 6 and 2 ppm wet weight, respectively.
Kruger
K
K
Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Equine Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110 South Africa.
Saulez
M N
MN
Neser
J A
JA
Solberg
K
K
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006736:Horses; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007855:Lead Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D013270:Stomach / Q000187:drug effects; D014018:Tissue Distribution