title: Hepatic concentrations of copper and other metals in dogs with and without chronic hepatitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Defects in copper metabolism have been described in several dog breeds, and recently, it has been suggested that changes in other essential trace elements could be involved in the pathogenesis of hepatic disease. This study measured hepatic copper accumulation and its interactions with other essential trace and toxic metals in dogs diagnosed with chronic hepatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Liver samples of 20 chronic hepatitis and 20 healthy dogs were collected. Samples were acid digested, and essential metals (cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molibdenum, selenium and zinc) and toxic metals (arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead) were analysed by inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Copper concentrations were significantly higher in dogs affected by hepatic disease than in controls. Dogs having chronic hepatitis with liver copper concentration greater than 100 mg/kg wet weight showed statistically higher cobalt, manganese and zinc concentrations than dogs having chronic hepatitis with liver copper concentrations less than 100 mg/kg wet weight and controls. Toxic metal concentrations were low - in all cases below the threshold associated with toxicity in dogs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dogs with chronic hepatitis not only have increased concentrations of copper in the liver but also increased concentrations of cobalt, manganese and zinc; measurement of these elements may perhaps aid in diagnosis of liver disease in dogs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, 27002, Spain.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cedeño
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito, 170129, Ecuador.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: López-Alonso
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary Faculty, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo 27002, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9869-3874
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miranda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003300:Copper / Q000378:metabolism*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D014131:Trace Elements; D003300:Copper