Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Copper deficiency in cattle, sheep and horses caused by excess molybdenum from fly ash: a case report.
- Journal:
- Veterinary and human toxicology
- Year:
- 1995
- Authors:
- Ladefoged, O & Stürup, S
- Affiliation:
- Institute of Toxicology
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A case was reported involving cattle, sheep, and horses that developed copper deficiency due to high levels of molybdenum, a metal found in fly ash, which polluted their pasture. The animals were grazing on this contaminated land, and without their symptoms, it would have been hard to figure out what was making the horses sick. Molybdenum poisoning is rare in animals that aren't ruminants, but it was believed to be the cause of death for some of the horses. The study suggests that molybdenum from fly ash is easily absorbed by animals, leading to these health issues. Unfortunately, the outcome for the affected horses was fatal.
Abstract
A case of copper deficiency or molybdenum toxicosis in cattle, sheep and horses after heavy pollution of a pasture with fly ash is described. If the pastures had not been grazed by cattle and sheep as well as the horses, it would have been difficult to identify the reason for the intoxication in the horses. It is argued that molybdenum intoxication, although seldom seen in non-ruminants, was the cause of the deaths of the horses. It is suggested that the bioavailability of molybdenum in fly ash is high and therefore can cause equine intoxication.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7709597/