Physiological stress in sheep with chronic copper toxicosis can precipitate which outcome?

• A. Acute hemolytic crisis
• B. Chronic kidney failure
• C. Neurologic signs
• D. Liver failure

Answer: (A)

Chronic copper toxicosis in sheep involves large hepatic copper stores. When the animal experiences physiological stress, copper is released into the bloodstream and damages red blood cell membranes, causing rapid intravascular hemolysis. This acute destruction of red cells is the dramatic, precipitating event—an acute hemolytic crisis—that can lead to severe anemia, hemoglobinemia, and hemoglobinuria, and often death. While liver injury and secondary kidney damage can follow as consequences of the copper burden, the stress-induced outcome that is most characteristic is the sudden hemolysis.