Susceptibility of Nubian goats to mercury poisoning in the Sudan

Abstract

Twelve Nubian goats were given single or repeated oral dosages of mercuric chloride at 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg and died or were killed in extremis at various times after dosing (18 hours-18 days). The main signs of poisoning were anorexia, frothing at the mouth, respiratory distress, epistaxis, bloat, diarrhoea, abnormal posture and recumbency. An increase in the activity of GOT and in the concentrations of urea and inorganic phosphate and a decrease in total protein and calcium concentrations in the serum were detected. The main lesions were dilatation and necrosis of the proximal convoluted tubules, shrinkage and disappearance of the glomerular tufts, varying amounts of acidophilic homogenous material in the lumens of the affected tubules of the kidney, enteritis, hepatocellular degeneration and/or necrosis and pulmonary congestion, haemorrhage, oedema and emphysema. The changes in the red blood cells indicated anaemia.