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[Zinc intoxication dogs with simultaneous zinc deficiency--an expanded case study]
1Institut für Pharmakologie, Toxikologie und Pharmazie, Tierärztliche Fakultät der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.
Berliner Und Munchener Tierarztliche Wochenschrift
|July 1, 1997
Summary
A dachshund with anemia showed high zinc and low copper levels after ingesting a brass button. This highlights the complex zinc-copper interaction and identifies decreased diaminoxidase activity as a key indicator of copper deficiency.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Toxicology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Copper and zinc are essential trace elements with complex interactions.
- Imbalances can lead to various health issues in animals.
- Diagnosis of trace element deficiencies can be challenging.
Observation:
- A dachshund presented with severe gastrointestinal and systemic symptoms including vomiting, anorexia, apathy, and anemia.
- A brass button, an alloy of copper and zinc, was found and removed from the dog's stomach.
- Blood analysis revealed significantly elevated zinc and critically low copper levels.
Findings:
- The study investigated the paradoxical copper deficiency despite apparent copper exposure from the brass button.
- Serum diaminoxidase (DAO) activity, an indicator of copper-dependent ceruloplasmin, was found to be decreased.
- This suggests that high zinc levels can interfere with copper metabolism and utilization.
Implications:
- This case underscores the critical interplay between zinc and copper metabolism.
- Copper deficiency may not always stem from insufficient dietary intake.
- Assessing diaminoxidase activity is a valuable diagnostic tool for identifying copper-deficient states, even with concurrent high zinc levels.