Abstract

KRUGER, K; SAULEZ, M N; NESER, J A  and  SOLBERG, K. Acute lead intoxication in a pregnant mare. J. S. Afr. Vet. Assoc. [online]. 2008, vol.79, n.1, pp.50-53. ISSN 2224-9435.

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.

Keywords : cerebral dysfunction; equine; lead intoxication.

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