Effects of infection on plasma levels of copper and zinc in ewes.

Plasma copper and zinc in 20 ewes, healthy or infected with chronic postpartum metritis or mastitis, have been determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Plasma protein profile was measured by electrophoresis on cellulose acetate plates, and albumin and ceruloplasmin were determined colorimetrically. For the ten initial days, plasma copper and ceruloplasmin increased in plasma zinc decreased in spite of a daily drenching of 200 mg Zn/ewe (as sulfate). Fibrinogen and IgG2 increased and albumin decreased slightly indicating an infectious process. After a five day period of intramuscular injection with chloramphenicol, tetracycline and prednisolone, plasma zinc increased but copper remained unchanged. It may be concluded that hypozincemia should not be attributed to a zinc deficiency without any information on biochemical parameters specific for inflammation of infection. An inflammatory hypozincemia is not affected by a zinc treatment even at a high level.