• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Locations:
  • Canyon
  • Center
  • College Station
  • Gonzales
  • TVMDL Career Center
  • Contact Us

Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory

Apple App

download on the Apple App Store
download the app on Google Play

Search

Translate:

  • Find a Form
  • Deliver a Sample
    • Specimen Collection Information
    • Packaging Samples for Shipment
    • Drop Off a Sample
    • Cremation
    • Order Supplies
  • Client Portal
    • Get Test Results
    • SVA Portal
    • Pay a Bill
  • Become a Client
  • Resources
    • TVMDL Bovine Testing Guidance and Reference Material
    • Diagnostic Plans
      • Bovine Syndromic Diagnostic Plans
      • Equine Syndromic Diagnostic Plans
      • Small Ruminant Syndromic Diagnostic Plans
      • Small Animal Syndromic Diagnostic Plans
    • Education Library
    • Case Study Library
    • Electronic Reporting: QR Coding Process
    • CoreOne Resources
  • About Us
    • Locations and Hours
    • Agency Leadership
    • Speaker’s Bureau
    • Texas Pullorum-Typhoid Program
    • TVMDL Mobile app
    • Contact Us
  • Locations
    • College Station Laboratory
    • Canyon Laboratory
    • Center Laboratory
    • Gonzales Laboratory
  • Contact Us

Sodium Ion Toxicosis in Cattle

July 18, 2019 by Mallory Pfeifer

Sodium Ion Toxicosis in Cattle
Travis Mays, Analytical Chemistry Section Head

Approximately 40 head of Hereford cows were grazing on 12 sections of land with oil production activity present. In one particular section, four to five cows were found dead within 12-24 hours. Another cow was observed by the owner to be shaking and trembling, had fallen and gotten up, fell a second time and became laterally recumbent. This animal was euthanized, necropsied, and samples were submitted to the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) in College Station for testing. The water source for the section of land where the cows died came from two different wells. The owner noticed a loose, white mineral near one of the wells and indicated the water from the well tasted salty.

Histopathology was performed on sections of lung, liver, kidney, and brain. No microscopic lesions were observed in any of the tissues to explain the cause of death in the animal. Ocular fluid was tested for excessive nitrates but yielded negative results. Rumen content was distilled and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for the presence of petroleum hydrocarbons, but none were detected. The brain was analyzed for sodium and a toxic level (>7,200 ppm) was detected by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS). Water samples from multiple sources were submitted subsequently for water quality testing. A sample of water from the well nearest where the deaths occurred contained levels of Total Dissolved Salts (TDS), conductivity, and sulfates that are hazardous to livestock.

Cattle with acute salt intake may develop gastroenteritis, weakness, dehydration, tremors, and ataxia. The cattle may appear to be blind and develop seizure-like activity. Cattle can die within 24 hours of the onset of clinical signs. Measurement of TDS in water is determined by the summation of all measured ions (cations and anions). TDS levels >3,000 ppm should be avoided by lactating animals, and levels >7,000 ppm may pose significant risks to many animals. High conductivity is an indication of TDS. Sulfate levels in water >2,000 ppm can cause diarrhea in most livestock.

TVMDL employs five veterinary diagnosticians available for consultation on a variety of subjects. TVMDL recommends clients who are interested in learning more about water quality testing, metal and mineral testing, and other test offerings of assistance to livestock producers, contact a veterinary diagnostician.

For more information about this case, contact Analytical Chemistry Section Head Travis Mays. To learn more about TVMDL’s testing services visit tvmdl.tamu.edu or call 1.888.5623.

Reference:
Provin TL and Pitt JL. Description of Water Analysis Parameters. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. 2002. SCS-2002-10.

Filed Under: Case Study Tagged With: analytical chemistry, bovine, cattle, college station, toxic, toxicology, TVMDL

Primary Sidebar

Latest Case Studies

  • Neurologic Disease due to Bovine Herpesvirus-5 (BHV-5) Infection in a 3-week-old Charolais mix calf

    February 27, 2023

  • Rare case of ocular onchocerciasis in a dog from south Texas

    January 25, 2023

  • Cerebrospinal Nematodiasis (Visceral Larval Migrans) in Birds

    September 13, 2022

  • Spironucleosis (Hexamitiasis) in Quail

    August 9, 2022

  • Endocarditis in a White-Tailed Deer Caused by Trueperella pyogenes

    August 9, 2022

Footer

For Employees

  • Employee Email
  • TVMDL Rules & Procedures
  • TVMDL Career Center
  • Emergency Alert Systems
  • AgriLife People Directory
  • AgriLife Administrative Services
  • TAMUS Single Sign On
  • Facebook

State of Texas

  • Texas.gov Portal
  • Texas Veterans Portal
  • Statewide Search
  • Texas Homeland Security
  • Risk, Fraud, & Misconduct Hotline

Policies

  • Privacy and Security Policy
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Texas A&M AgriLife
  • Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostics Laboratory
  • Texas A&M Forest Service
  • Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
  • Texas A&M AgriLife Research

483 Agronomy Rd
College Station, TX 77843