Serum enzyme status of Chios ewes fed increasing amounts of copper from copper sulfate.

This study aimed to evaluate effects of orally administered copper (Cu) to Chios sheep breed on serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), l-alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate deydrogenase (LDH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), in order to establish a practical and effective method in diagnosing the prehemolytic stage of chronic Cu poisoning. Eighteen ewes were allocated to three treatments of six ewes and fed a diet that contained 16.4 mg/day of Cu. Ewes in treatment Cu-0 received no additional Cu (control), while those in treatments Cu-60 and Cu-95 received 60 and 95 mg additional Cu/day, respectively, as an oral solution of copper sulfate. Therefore the ewes in treatment Cu-0, Cu-60 and Cu-95 consumed 16.4, 76.4 and 111.4 mg Cu/day, respectively. Serum enzyme levels were similar among treatments and all ewes remained clinically healthy until the end of the experiment. Results suggest that Chios ewes exhibit tolerance to Cu supplementation for up to 6 weeks.