Salt poisoning in sheep at Noakhali coastal area of BangladeshA case report

Abstract

Salt poisoning in livestock, especially in coastal areas, is due to tidal upsurge, which causes significant mortality. Acute salt poisoning occurred in sheep in the Noakhali coastal area. The cases of poisoning were diagnosed based on history and clinical signs, including abnormal enlargement below the jaw and around the eye, thirst, diarrhea in the early stage, and nervous signs such as tremors and circling. This was followed by electrolyte analysis of the serum of affected and non-affected sheep, as well as water and soil in that particular region.

The electrolytes, including magnesium, potassium, and chloride, were tested using commercial kits through a biochemical analyzer (Humalyzer 3000®). Upon analysis, serum magnesium (2.28±0.62 vs. 1.05±0.44 mEq/dl; case vs. control), potassium (2.35±0.06 vs. 1.9±0.08 mmol/l; case vs. control), and chloride (121.9±4.51 vs. 112.58±4.29 mmol/l; case vs. control) levels were found to be higher in affected sheep than in non-affected sheep. In conclusion, serum electrolyte imbalance in sheep resulted from acute salt toxicity.