Copper

COPPER

Source

  • Soil

Functions

  • Controls absorption of iron from intestine
  • Haemoglobin synthesis
  • Component of cytochrome oxidase
  • Phospholipid synthesis
  • Activates oxidase, tyrosinase, succinic oxidase

DEFICIENCY DISEASES

Causes

Piglets

  • Haemopoetic tissues - Microcytic Hypochromic anemia
  • Baby pigs raised on wooden or concrete floors
  • Deprived of soil
  • Anemia
  • Sow’s milk → ↓ Cu→ Deficiency

Sheep

  • “Steely wool”
  • Wool becomes more hair like
  • Loses its color due to decreased melanin

Disorders of CNS

  • England and Australia - sheep and goats
  • “Enzootic ataxia or SWAY BACK”
  • Sheep grazed or molybedenum rich grasses (Mo antognostic to Cu)
  • Incoordination, weakness of hind legs
  • Spastic paralysis, blindness
  • Demyelinization, softening and necrosis of cerebrum

Cattle

“Falling disease”

  • Australia and USA
  • Cows falls and die suddenly
  • Anemia / Loss of weight /Diarrhoea
  • Fibrosis of myocardium
  • Degeneration of elastic tissue

Skeletal system

  • Depression of osteoblastic activity
  • Osteoid is not deposited in cartilage
  • Osteoporosis - Cattle
  • Swelling of long bones especially above pastern region
  • Fracture of ribs, femur, humerus
  • Infertility, retained placenta, rickets in calves

Excess of copper

  • Drenching sheep with CuSo4 for stomach worms causes gastritis, enteritis, death
  • Poultry – Poisoning - depression , convulsions , coma
  • Humans –Wilson’s disease
Last modified: Friday, 23 March 2012, 5:36 AM