Chronic lead poisoning in horses

Journal Article · Thu Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1978 · Am. J. Vet. Res.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5366279

Dollahite, J W; Younger, R L; Crookshank, H R; Jones, L P; Petersen, H D

Lead Acetate was fed to 4 groups of 2 horses each to study chronic lead intoxication. A 5th group of 3 horses was maintained as controls. The lead was fed in capsules, with the minimum dosage of 6.25 mg/kg/day of lead as lead acetate (group I). The dose was increased from group I through group IV in an approximate geometric series, with each group being given about 125% of the dose given the previous group. These doses were given for 105 days, a period designated as phase 1. Since clinical signs were not observed after 105 days, the doses were increased and fed for an additional 190 days (days 106 to 295). This period was designated phase 2. The smallest daily dose in phase 2 was set at about 125% of the largest daily dose in phase 1. The doses in each group was increased by about 125% of that of the previous group, as was done in phase 1. Seven horses died or were euthanatized after 18 to 190 days of phase 2 (123 to 295 days after the 1st dose). One horse in group I did not develop any clinical signs of intoxication. Dose-related responses were unnoticed with doses larger than 15.3 mg/kg/day. All horses given lead had increased blood lead and serum iron concentrations. During phase 2, the hematocrit and hemoglobin contents were depressed. The lead concentration in kidney, liver, spleen, pancreas, brain, bone, and heart was increased in the treated horses. The dose level required to produce lead intoxication was greater than that reported for cattle and that estimated in epizootiologic studies of horses.

• Research Organization: Dept. of Agriculture, College Station, TX
• OSTI ID: 5366279
• Journal Information: Am. J. Vet. Res.; (United States), Vol. 39:6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
HORSES
INJURIES
LEAD
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
TOXICITY
BLOOD
BRAIN
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
DEATH
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
HEART
INGESTION
KIDNEYS
PANCREAS
SKELETON
SPLEEN
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
GLANDS
INTAKE
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
METALS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
ORGANS
VERTEBRATES
560305* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Vertebrates- (-1987)