The aim of the study was to evaluate the content of Cu and Mo in the liver, kidneys, and skeletal muscles of elks from north-eastern Poland. The investigation material comprised samples obtained in 2010 from 35 animals. Animals were grouped according to age (elks up to 2 years and over than 3 years). The metal concentrations were determined using coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) method. The mean Cu concentrations in the liver, kidneys, and skeletal muscles were 23.08, 5.03, and 2.36 mg∙kg(-1) wet weight, respectively. The mean Mo content in the examined samples was as follows: 0.92, 0.42, and 0.05 mg∙kg(-1) wet weight (w.w.) in the liver, kidneys, and muscles. In the analysis of correlation between the Cu and Mo levels in particular organs, the presence of significant dependence (p ≤ 0.05) was observed in the liver of animals studied. The mean Cu content in the liver of animals studied is lower compared with data reported from Sweden, Russia, and North America. Concentrations of Cu and Mo in the kidneys and skeletal muscles of Polish elks are similar to data noted in healthy animals from Scandinavian region. The results suggest that elks from north-eastern Poland may be threatened by primary Cu deficiency.
Keywords: Copper; Elk (Alces alces); Kidneys; Liver; Molybdenum; Muscles.