tetrathiomolybdate and Chronic-Disease

South African Mutton Merino wethers (n = 5) were each dosed with 2.5 g copper oxide needles. Three weeks later the sheep were placed on stainless steel metabolic crates to facilitate urine and faecal collection. Ammonium tetrathiomolybdate (TTM) (1.7 mg kg-1) was administered intravenously, blood samples were collected at intervals and different pharmacokinetic parameters for TTM were determined and are presented. Serum molybdenum concentration data were best described by a 2-compartmental open model with first order rate constants. An elimination half-life (T1/2 beta) of 396.8 min, steady state volume of distribution (Vdss) of 0.8 e kg-1 and total body clearance (C1B) of 1.53 ml kg-1 min-1 were observed using non-linear compartmental analysis. A significant (p < or = 0.05) increase in molybdenum excretion in the faeces occurred at 24 and 48 h following TTM administration. No increase in faecal and urinary copper excretion could be demonstrated, probably because the sheep were not copper-loaded. However, before a shorter dosage interval can be recommended for the treatment of sheep during the haemolytic crisis of chronic copper poisoning, further research in copper-loaded sheep is indicated.

Topics: Animals; Chronic Disease; Copper; Male; Molybdenum; Sheep; Sheep Diseases

Effective control of copper poisoning in sheep was obtained by the subcutaneous injection of ammonium tetrathiomolybdate. Three doses, each of 3.4 mg/kg bodyweight, were given on alternate days. This treatment caused a substantial reduction in liver copper content and in liver damage. It also decreased the mortality rate in animals that had developed the haemolytic crisis. The subcutaneous route is as effective as the intravenous route and is more convenient. No adverse side-effects of the treatment were observed.

Topics: Animals; Chronic Disease; Copper; Injections, Subcutaneous; Liver; Male; Molybdenum; Sheep; Sheep Diseases