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Two outbreaks of fluorosis in cattle and sheep
Abstract
Two outbreaks of fluorosis in cattle and sheep were investigated in the Northern Transvaal. The animals exhibited severe dental lesions, lameness and exostoses. Plasma fluoride concentrations were high and there was an inversion of the albumin/globulin ratio. Alkaline phosphatase activity was elevated. Drinking water from boreholes contained excessive amounts of fluoride and upon irrigation, pastures were also contaminated with fluoride.
... Few studies have evaluated the quantities of fluorides, emitted by the mining waste, in the waters and in living animals near the fluorite mine located in the east of Tunisia (Botha et al., 1993). In a Mediterranean climate, with little rainfall and low ground cover, fluoride dust from mine tailings can specifically affect the environment surrounding the mine. ...
... As a consequence, they seem to be associated most often with ground water, with high pH values (>7) facilitating ion exchange between F-fluorides and OH-hydroxyl groups, and of the sodium bicarbonate type characterized by low concentrations of magnesium and calcium due to the low solubility of fluorine (Botha et al., 1993). ...
The north east of Tunisia ore deposits (Hammam Zriba) contain a large amount of fluorides constituting a risk of environmental pollution as well as risks to human and animal health. The aim of our work was to assess the levels of fluorides in the water and blood of sheep in the east of Tunisia region. This analysis study included 78 water samples and 60 blood samples taken during 3 days in the year 2019, from a sheep herd at Hammam Zriba delegation. The determination of fluorine concentration in the samples was carried out by potentiometry with a selective electrode type ISE combined Fluoride perfectION™. High Fluoride concentrations were found at a mean of 1.62 ± 1.18, 1.45 ± 0.98, and 2.65 ± 1.61 mg/l, respectively, in running, deep, and stagnant waters. In addition, 83.3% of the animals reared within 400 m of the study area had elevated fluoride levels in the blood exceeding the usual values (fluoremia> 0.15 mg/l). The concentration of fluoride in the blood of the animals decreases with increasing distance from the mine.
... Irrigation with fluorine-rich groundwater can also contribute to fluoride accumulation in plants, particularly via foliar uptake during overhead irrigation [109]. Botha et al. [110] suggested that fluoride-rich irrigation water may be partly responsible for livestock fluorosis in South Africa. ...
Soil naturally contains fluorine, but concerns arise when its levels or bioavailability are increased by human activities or specific compounds. South Korea faces challenges in regulating soil fluorine pollution despite implementing stricter total fluorine standards (e.g., 400 mg/kg for residential areas) than many developed countries (e.g., 4000 mg/kg for all land uses in Japan). Moreover, a recent national soil survey in Korea revealed widespread exceedance (15.2% of samples) of the Soil Worrisome Level, even in areas with naturally low background levels of fluoride. This highlights the limitations of regulations based solely on total fluorine content. This review explores the global landscape of soil fluorine management strategies and examines potential solutions that reconcile environmental protection with economic concerns. We recommend a shift towards regulating specific and hazardous fluorine compounds rather than total content and prioritizing remediation efforts based on assessments of bioavailable fluorine. This approach may help Korea establish a more effective and sustainable strategy for managing soil fluorine pollution.
... Irrigation with fluorine-rich groundwater can also contribute to fluoride accumulation in plants, particularly via foliar uptake during overhead irrigation [109]. Botha et al. [110] suggested that fluoride-rich irrigation water may be partly responsible for livestock fluorosis in South Africa. ...
Soil naturally contains fluorine, but concerns arise when its levels or bioavailability are increased by human activities or specific compounds. South Korea faces challenges in regulating soil fluorine pollution despite implementing stricter total fluorine standards than many developed countries. Moreover, these regulations can be economically unfeasible because of the naturally high background levels of fluorine in the soil in Korea. This review explores the global landscape of soil fluorine management strategies and examines potential solutions that reconcile environmental protection with economic concerns. We recommend a shift towards regulating specific and hazardous fluorine compounds rather than total content, and prioritizing remediation efforts based on assessments of bioavailable fluorine. This approach may help Korea establish a more effective and sustainable strategy for managing soil fluorine pollution.
... Irrigation with fluorine-rich groundwater can also contribute to fluoride accumulation in plants, particularly via foliar uptake during overhead irrigation [109]. In animals, Botha et al. [110] suggested that fluoride-rich irrigation water may be partly responsible for livestock fluorosis in South Africa. ...
Fluorine naturally occurs in soil and rocks; however, concerns arise when human activities or specific compounds increase its levels or bioavailability. South Korea faces challenges in managing soil fluorine contamination even though existing regulations based on total fluorine content are stricter than those in many developed countries. However, these regulations can be economically impractical because of Korea's naturally high background levels of fluorine in the soil. This study examined the international landscape of soil fluorine management and explored potential solutions that balance environmental protection with economic considerations. We propose a shift towards regulating specific and harmful fluorine compounds and prioritizing remediation based on bioavailability assessments. This approach can guide Korea towards a more effective and sustainable strategy for managing soil fluorine contamination.
... Moreover, dental and skeletal fluorosis have been highlighted in this species in many other endemic areas such as Morocco, Turkey, and other countries [36,38,39,40,41,42]. On the other hand, many studies reported the negative effects of fluorosis in soft tissue, genetic parameters, teratogenic effects, apoptosis, genotoxic effects, reproductive organs, and growth in ruminants [5,43,44]. ...
Environmental pollutants are considered a serious health problem for humans and animals mainly in ruminants for several regions of the world. Previously, many studies have investigated the mechanisms of toxicity of these pollutants on laboratory animals. Afterward, other studies have demonstrated that exposure to environmental pollutants may cause several adverse effects on the ruminant organs, influencing their performance and leading to socioeconomic problems for breeders. Fluoride, lead, arsenic, and cadmium are the most common poisonings in ruminants, they can cause several irreversible toxic effects in many organs depending on the mode of action. The adverse effects of fluoride, lead, arsenic, and cadmium toxicities in laboratory animals and ruminants have been clearly summarized in this review. In addition, several results on protective or ameliorative effects by means of natural products against these toxicities have been illustrated.
... It also had harmful effects on the bones. Moreover, fluoride has been found to affect the digestive tract, liver, kidneys, heart and reproductive organs of sheep (Botha et al., 1993;Çetin and Yur, 2016;Efe et al., 2020). Table 1 summarizes the main harmful effects of fluoride toxicity in sheep. ...
Fluoride is a natural element widely distributed in the environment and plays an important role in the growth of humans and animals. However, in many species, high concentrations of fluoride induce several problems, such as dental, skeletal, and non-skeletal fluorosis. Sheep living in endemic areas are sensitive to the chronic toxicity of fluoride, and they have been found to suffer not only from teeth and bone problems but also from other organs. Studies indicating the chronic harmful effects of fluoride on teeth, bones, blood biochemical parameters, kidney, liver, heart, reproductive system and growth in sheep have been clearly summarized in this review. Besides, this work also includes updated progress in terms of prevention or reduction of fluoride toxicity in this species.
... These lesions may lead to loss of condition due to stiffness, lameness, and apprehension and chewing problems due to poor dentition. Botha et al. [22] described an outbreak of fluorosis that affected sheep and cattle. Sheep developed pitting of the enamel and abnormally elevated plasma levels of urea and alkaline phosphatase. ...
Infectious and parasitic agents have been frequently associated with debilitating and wasting conditions in sheep. The prevalence of these agents has probably undermined the role of toxic causes as contributors to such disorders. In addition, many of these intoxications frequently produce acute clinical disease with specific and characteristic lesions, thus a causal relationship with the toxic substance may be relatively easy to establish. However, persistent exposure to some of these organic or inorganic toxic substances may lead to emaciation, ill-thrift, and poor external aspect. The anti-nutritional factors and alkaloids of several plants, including pyrrolizidine alkaloids, among others, have also been associated with emaciation and/or poor general performance in sheep flocks. In this review, some of these disorders are discussed with an emphasis on clinical signs and lesions, relevant diagnostic aspects, and available therapeutic approaches. In most cases, demonstrating a history of exposure should be one of the most relevant aspects of the diagnostic approach, and removing the animals from the toxic source is the cornerstone of the majority of the treatment strategies.
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system of goats
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