Difference between revisions of "Copper Deficiency"

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Latest revision as of 12:18, 13 May 2011

Nervous system

  • Copper deficiency in the pregnant ewe can result in "swayback'" in lambs.
    • Due to white matter degeneration in the central nervous system of prenatal and neonatal lambs.
  • The degeneration is thought to be a mixture of both hypomyelination and demyelination.
  • The central nervous system of the lambs is affected.
    • Neonatal lambs show an ataxia in the first few weeks of life.
      • Due to demyelination of dorsolateral and ventromedial tracts in the white matter of the spinal cord.
    • More severe lesions can be present in lambs affected prenatally.
      • Destruction of subcortical white matter in the brain.
        • The extent of this varies.
  • It is unknown how copper deficiency exerts this effect.
    • Supplementation in pregnancy prevents the prenatal form.
    • Supplementation in the first few weeks will alleviate the neonatal form.

Skin

  • Hair or wool depigmentation
    • Black sheep develop bands of lighter colouring
    • Cattle develop spectacle pattern of depigmentation around eyes)
    • Coat colour may change from black to reddish brown