Status of Fluorosis in Animals

Abstract

Excess intake of fluoride for a prolonged period results in its accumulation predominantly in hard tissues, teeth and bones and causes diverse adverse effects that appear in the form of dental and skeletal fluorosis. Prolonged ingestion of fluoride also affects other organs and alters their architecture and physiology. Dental, skeletal and non-skeletal fluorosis have been described in different species of domestic animals due to excess concentration of fluoride in their drinking water, but maximum permissible or safe limit of fluoride in drinking water for these animals has not been well studied. Effects of different levels of fluoride exposures have been studied experimentally in laboratory animals, including rabbit, rat and mice. It has been found to affect digestive tract, liver, kidneys, brain, and endocrine organs, besides intrauterine development of foetus. But the exact mechanism involved in fluoride toxicity in these organs or tissues remain unanswered. Amelioration of fluorotoxicosis has been well observed in soft tissues in experimental study by using certain ameliorative agents such as ascorbic acid, vitamin A and D, calcium, boron, magnesium, and selenium compounds. Some herbal amelioration has also been investigated recently in sheep, goats and camels. This review provides comprehensive information on status of fluorosis in domestic and laboratory animals.