Question

The occurrence of hip lameness and fracture of third phalanx are thought to be the diagnostic of poisoning due to:

• A. Fluoride
• B. Mercury
• C. Lead
• D. Arsenic

Hint:

Fluorosis in cattle presents with a classic triad:
1. Dental lesions (mottling and pitting).
2. Skeletal lesions (exostoses).
3. Lameness and pathological fractures, especially of the pedal bone (third phalanx).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Chronic toxicity of certain mineral elements (such as fluorine) interferes with normal bone and mineral metabolism, leading to skeletal and dental defects in livestock.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us evaluate the manifestations of chronic fluorosis in cattle:
- Chronic fluorine poisoning (fluorosis) occurs due to ingestion of high-fluoride water or industrial emissions on forage.
- Fluoride replaces hydroxyl groups in hydroxyapatite crystals of bone to form fluorapatite, which alters bone density, causing osteoporosis and osteophytosis.
- Clinical signs include severe dental lesions (mottling, staining, rapid wear of teeth) and skeletal abnormalities.
- Cattle develop severe, painful lameness, particularly affecting the hip joint (hip lameness) due to exostosis.
- The bones become fragile and brittle, leading to pathological fractures under normal load, with the fracture of the third phalanx (pedal bone) being a classic, highly diagnostic sign of chronic fluorosis.
- Heavy metals like lead, mercury, and arsenic cause neurological, gastrointestinal, or renal signs, but do not selectively target bone structure in this manner.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Thus, these specific osteo-pathological fractures and lameness are diagnostic of fluoride poisoning.