HIPOCUPROSE EM CAPRINOS

Abstract

This paper reports a copper deficiency outbreak in mixed goats, native to a property in Queimadas – PB. The goats were presented to the large animal clinic at the veterinary hospital, in Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB), Areia, PB. The herd had been raised in extensive grazing method and they had acquired, gradually, a neurologic disease that had attacked only the young animals. In total, seven animals were clinically affected, with ages between two and three months old. Four animals have deceased and all of them had showed ataxia and rear limb paralysis. It was related diarrhea in the animals younger than a month old. The outbreak was diagnosed by necropsy of one of the goats, along with clinical evaluation associated to laboratorial tests, with liver-copper levels dosage. Current research displays that the most common microelement deficiencies are copper and cobalt ones, for either ruminants or small ruminants, especially in northeast of Brazil. The clinical treatment was based on copper sulfate inclusion to mineral salt in the trough at non-toxic doses for the species, which appeared to be satisfactory in the property.