Abstract
Ten sheeps from one farm had sudden onset of anorexia, jaundice and hemoglobinuria and died within 3 days after showing clinical signs during 3 months period. Postmortom examination was performed on one case and copper concentrations in the livers kidney and serum of the necmpsied minim were analysed. Grossly, the conjunctive, subcutaneous tissue and abdominal fat were generally icteric. The liver was enlarged with yellowish orange in color. The kidney was enlarged with dark red in color and the urinary bladder was filled with dark red urine. Histopathologically, centrilobular hepatocellular necrosis, neutrophilic infiltrations bile stasis and aggregation of fine granules-laden macrophages in the portal area were noted in the liver. Most of the Bowman's spaces and renal tubules were filled with homogenous eosinophilic fluid. Extramedullary hematopoiesis was noted in the submandibular lymph node. Copper concentrations in serum, liver and kidney of the necropsied animal were 25.0, 2732.8 and 471.3 ppm respectively. Based on the gross and histopathological findings and the high copper concentrations in the organs, this case was diagnosed as chronic copper toxicosis. Possible etiology on this outbreak is also discussed.
