The aim of the study was to highlight the toxic effects after lead and lead-cadmium repeated oral exposure for nine weeks in ewes. An experiment was conducted using “OuledDjellal” ewes during two periods: before exposure where ewes are considered as controls and during exposure. Ten ewes were randomly divided   in two groups of five; the lead group received lead nitrate at 2.5 mg.Pb/kg/day and the lead-cadmium group received lead nitrate at 2.5 mg.Pb/kg/day + cadmium chloride at 2 mg Cd/kg/day orally during 63 days. Both groups were tested for their blood lead levels and hematological and biochemical parameters before and after receiving the treatment. Before exposure, blood lead levels were below the detection limit of 4 µg/l. Blood levels of lead during 9 weeks of exposure varied from 135±57µg/l to 356±147µg/l for the lead group and from 192±75µg/l to 445±294µg/l for the co-exposed group. Mean blood lead levels of lead-cadmium group were more elevated than the ones of the lead group. ¶The transaminases (ALT, AST) are high for the Pb-Cd group during the two last weeks of exposure. ¶¶The rates of hematocrit and hemoglobin decreased for the Pb-Cd group to reach a value of 28% and 8.9±0.6mg/100ml, respectively.¶ The co-administration of Pb and Cd resulted in a significant reduction in zinc and copper plasma contents.

Key words: Ewe, Cadmium, Lead, Serum biochemical profile, Subchronic oral toxicity