v.15, n.2, 8

Diagnostic Exercise from The Latin Comparative Pathology Group

Chronic copper poisoning in a sheep

Bianca S. de Cecco, Franciéli A. Molossi, Lauren S. de Mello, Matheus V. Bianchi & Saulo P. Pavarini

Clinical History:
A one-year-old female Texel sheep had anorexia and jaundice. After one day, the clinical condition progressed to lethargy, lateral recumbency, and death within hours. The sheep was part of a flock of 20 housed indoors and received an increasing amount of feed (specific for sheep) for the last two months.

Gross Findings: 

The sheep was in excellent body condition. The carcass was discolored by marked icterus (Fig. 1). In the subcutaneous tissue, there was multifocal petechiae and ecchymosis. The kidneys had a deep red-brown discoloration. The urinary bladder was distended and filled with dark red to black urine (Fig. 1). The liver was slightly soft and swollen, with a deep orange hue. The gallbladder was distended and filled with dark grumous bile.

Follow-up questions:

• Cause?
• Pathogenesis?

DOI: 10.24070/bjvp.1983-0246.v15i2p118-120