Indications of Copper Deficiency in a Subpopulation of Alaskan Moose

SEVERE HOOF DISEASE IN FREE-RANGING ROOSEVELT ELK (CERVUS ELAPHUS ROOSEVELTI) IN SOUTHWESTERN WASHINGTON, USA

“…Mineral analysis of liver showed that all elk were generally selenium deficient and all but one study elk were copper deficient (Hidiroglou and Williams 1986;Zaugg and Kinsel 1997;Johnson et al 2007). Copper levels in hoof wall of all elk were below limits previously established for wild Alaskan moose (Flynn et al 1977) and domestic cattle (Sugg et al 1996). Copper is a vital component of keratin, and deficiency may lead to abnormal sulfur cross-linking, resulting in defective hoof keratin, but generally also defective antlers and hair coat (Gogan et al 1989;Johnson et al 2007), which was not identified in this study or in affected elk in this region in general.…”

“…c Alaskan moose (Alces alces gigas) hoof copper parameters derived from Flynn et al (1977). e Bovine (Bos taurus) hoof copper normal parameters derived from Hidiroglou et al (1986) and Sugg et al (1996).…”

“…Briefly, fresh hoof wall without lamina was washed and approximately 1 g of hoof was dried, ashed at 600 C, and dissolved in 10 mL of 3.6 N HNO 3 for spectroscopy. Results were compared to values reported for free-ranging Alaskan moose (Alces alces gigas; Flynn et al 1977) and domestic cattle (Hidiroglou and Williams 1986;Sugg et al 1996).…”

“…Hoof disease in wild and captive cervids has been described worldwide, and etiologies include infectious diseases such as epizootic hemorrhagic disease and infectious pododermatitis (Sleeman et al 2009;Handeland et al 2010), noninfectious diseases such as mineral deficiencies and endophyte toxicity (Flynn et al 1977;Handeland and Vikren 2005), and chronic laminitis (Gray et al 2001;Clauss et al 2009), which is generally related to nutritional imbalance. In many cases, hoof disease in wild cervids may be multifactorial and influenced by diet, behavior, habitat use, range quality, and population genetics (Lavin et al 2004).…”

Anti-BrucellaAntibodies in Moose (Alces alces gigas), Muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus), and Plains Bison (Bison bison bison) in Alaska, USA

“…Other indicators of complex interactions between nutritional status and diseases, leading to impaired health in this study, include hoof lesions that could be attributed to copper deficiency-a condition that can cause abnormal hoof keratinization and population declines (Flynn et al 1977). Other trace mineral aberrations (elevated hepatic zinc and iron) could have exacerbated copper deficiency, since these minerals can be copper antagonists (Puls 1994).…”