Copper-associated hepatopathy in a Mexican fruit bat (Artibeus jamaicensis) and establishment of a reference range for hepatic copper in bats

Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, East Lansing, MI 48823, USA.

Copper toxicity has been described in numerous domestic species. The characteristic lesions include hemoglobinuric nephrosis and piecemeal hepatic necrosis with bile ductular hyperplasia and portal fibrosis. Certain species, such as sheep, are prone to toxicity when exposed to copper in feed, whereas an inherent genetic defect of copper storage is present in some breeds of dogs (Bedlington Terriers, West Highland White Terriers, Doberman Pinschers). In nondomestic species, reference ranges have not been established for copper in internal organs, so the establishment of copper toxicity as a diagnosis is difficult. A case of copper toxicity in a captive Mexican fruit bat is presented. Hepatic copper levels in 16 additional bats, of at least 3 different species, were measured. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of copper toxicity in a chiropteran.