A pathologic and toxicologic evaluation of veal calves fed large amounts of zinc.

Tissues were examined from 26 male Holstein veal calves given large amounts of dietary zinc. All calves had been fed 706 micrograms zinc/g of milk replacer for 28 days before the first death occurred. Calves died naturally (14, group A) or were euthanatized (12, group B) after 23 days of feeding a lower concentration of zinc (150 micrograms/g). Average amounts of zinc in liver (wet weight) were 345.72 micrograms/g (group A) and 344.84 micrograms/g (group B). Mean kidney zinc concentrations were 219.0 micrograms/g (group A) and 252.38 micrograms/g (group B). Tissue manganese, copper, and iron levels were normal. Changes at necropsy included pneumonia, fluid digesta, and petechiae and infarcts in liver, kidney, and heart (as a result of bacterial infections). Histological changes that were directly attributed to dietary zinc intake were: marked atrophy and necrosis of pancreatic acinar tissue (group A); multifocal fibrosis of pancreatic acini (group B); multifocal renal cortical fibrosis with necrosis in convoluted tubules and loops of Henle, and with intratubular mineralization (groups A and B). Hepatic midzonal mineralization and fibrosis of the adrenal zona glomerulosa were seen in group B calves.