Induction of Oral Lesions in Broiler Chicks by Supplementing the Diet with Copper

• Published in: Avian diseases Vol. 35; no. 4; pp. 969 - 973
• Main Authors: Jensen, Leo S., Dunn, Patricia A., Dobson, Kurt N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Association of Avian Pathologists, Inc 01-10-1991
• Subjects: Animal Feed; Animals; Birds; Body weight; Broiler chickens; Chickens; Copper - administration & dosage; Copper - toxicity; Copper Sulfate; Diet; Gizzard; Gizzard, Avian - drug effects; Lesions; Linear regression; Male; Mouth - drug effects; Mouth - pathology; Mouth Diseases - chemically induced; Mouth Diseases - veterinary; Potassium; Poultry Diseases - chemically induced; Proventriculus - drug effects; Regression Analysis; Research Notes; Sulfates
• ISSN: 0005-2086; 1938-4351
• DOI: 10.2307/1591637

Copper sulfate was added to the diet of broiler chickens from 1 day to 3 weeks of age at the rate of 0.05% to 0.20% in order to evaluate its influence on the incidence of oral lesions. Both the incidence and severity of oral lesions showed a significant linear increase as the concentration of copper sulfate increased. Adding a level of sulfate equivalent to that produced by the highest level of copper sulfate failed to induce oral lesions. The severity of gizzard erosion also increased as the concentration of copper increased. Dietary copper sulfate supplementation should be considered a possible cause of oral lesions seen during the necropsy of avian species. /// Se agregó sulfato de cobre a la dieta de pollos de engorde desde un día hasta tres semanas de edad, en un porcentaje de 0.05% a 0.20% para evaluar su influencia sobre la incidencia de lesiones bucales. Tanto la incidencia como la severidad de las lesions bucales mostraron un incremento linear significante cuando la concentración de sulfato de cobre se incrementó. Agregando una cantidad de sulfato equivalente al más alto nivel de sulfato de cobre, no se produjeron leiones bucales. La severidad de la erosión de la molleja tambien se incrementó cuando la concentración de cobre fue incrementada. La suplementación de sulfato de cobre en la dieta debe ser considerada como una posible causa de las lesiones orales observadas durante la necropsia de las especies aviares.