Accumulation of trace elements in sheep and the effects upon qualitative and quantitative ovarian changes.

The distribution of Cu, Zn, Fe, Mo, Se, As, Cd and Pb was determined in the organs of sheep that died of Cu intoxication from a Cu plants emissions. Simultaneously, quantitative and qualitative changes in the ovaries were evaluated. In sheep that died of copper intoxication, the highest Cu levels were in the liver (1797 +/- 946.1 mg/kg dry matter) and the kidneys (425.5 +/- 426.4 mg/kg dry matter). The liver and kidneys accumulated Zn, whereas Fe was primarily accumulated by spleen and kidneys. Selenium was mainly in the ovaries and uterus (7.72 +/- 4.88 and 5.30 +/- 5.33 mg/kg dry matter respectively). The ovaries and the uterus were the organs that accumulated As, Cd and Pb, respectively. Histological changes in the number of ovarian follicles and the increased occurrence of primary atretic follicles indicated alterations in the membrane structures and organelles of oocytes and in the follicular cells of the stratum granulosum.

[Possibilities of eliminating the effect of magnesite fly ash in beef bulls]. / Moznosti eliminácie pôsobenia magnezitových úletov u výkrmových býkov.

The objective of the paper was to test efficiency of feed ration enriched with calcium, phosphorus salts and fat concentrate for elimination of negative impacts of magnesite light ashes in beef bulls kept in an exposure area of magnesite works. For this purpose, 24 animals received a feed mix fortified with dicalcium phosphate at a rate of 100 g per head/day for eight months (P1 group) and another group of 24 bulls were administered a feed mix with an addition of 8% corn fat concentrate (P2 group). The other 24 animals were control (control group K). The clinical picture involved the occurrence of mild to profuse diarrheas which were alternately characteristic of all animal species in the first two months of the trial. Feed intake of the investigated groups was equal. Supplementation of feed ration with dicalcium phosphate and corn concentrate increased the weight gains of experimental animals in comparison with control bulls, the increase being 13.2 and 24.5%, resp. In comparison with the control bulls, the intake of the above supplements did not basically influence the dynamics of hematological profile indicators in the experimental bulls (Figs. 1-4). As for the parameters of hepatic profile, in the 3rd month of testing AST activity was positively influenced in both experimental groups if compared with the control group (P < 0.01), Fig. 5, and at the end of observation ALT activity in P2 group (P < 0.01), Fig. 6. Bilirubinemia dynamics did not change in the investigated groups after administration of either supplement (Fig. 9). ALP activity maintained statistically insignificantly higher values in the control animals in the second half of the trial, which demonstrated impairment of mineral metabolism in this group (Fig. 8). Significant differences in IgC levels between the control and experimental groups were confirmed in the 3rd month of the trial (P < 0.01), Fig. 12. In comparison with the control animals, the effect of dietary dicalcium phosphate supplementation in the experimental group P1 and dietary fat extract supplementation in the P2 group was observed in Ca, P and Mg concentrations to a more significant extent in the examined organs as well as in blood serum (Tabs. I-V). Except in spleen, there was a trend of higher cumulation of Ca in all the examined organs of bulls receiving dicalcium phosphate supplement. Phosphorus cumulation showed the same dependence upon dicalcium phosphate intake in the examined organs. Mg deposition in all examined organs showed minimum differences between the experimental groups and control animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

[Dynamics of specific antibody formation in sheep after administration of industrial substrates from an aluminum plant]. / Dynamika tvorby specifických protilátok u oviec pocas príjmu priemyselného substrátu z hlinikárne.

Our observations aimed at determining the effects of supplementation with aluminium of plant emissions on specific ovalbumin antibody production in sheep by means of an ELISA method. Eleven Merino ewes aged 2.5 years were included in the experiment. The experimental group consisted of 6 animals. The daily intake of 0.75 g substrate per animal was administered after the morning feeding via a laryngeal tube. The amounts of essential and risk elements included in the substrate are given in Tab. I. All animals were subcutaneously immunized with ovalbumin (OVA, SIGMA A 5503) in 10% alhydrogel (Superhpos Ltd., Denmark) at a dose of 0.2 mg per 10 kg of live weight. The first immunization took place prior to the first gavage of emissions, the second one on day 21 of the experiment. Blood samples from the v. jugularis were collected from all animals, prior to the first immunization, in 6 weekly intervals and then in the 8th and 10th week of the experiment. A modified ELISA method (Strobel, 1983) was used to determine specific OVA antibodies in the sera. Throughout the observation period the increase of OVA antibody production appeared to be more significant in the experimental sheep. In the latter, increased specific antibody production could be detected as early as in the 1st week with maximum immunoglobulinaemia occurring in weeks 3 and 6 after OVA administration. As to specific antibody concentrations, significant differences between the experimental and the control ewes were recorded in weeks 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the experiment (p < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Zinc, selenium and copper supplementation using rumen pellets and its effect on cellular and humoral responses in sheep]. / Suplementácia zinku, selénu a medi cestou cepco-bachorových peliet a jej vplyv na úroven cellulárnej a humorálnej odpovede u oviec.

The objective of the study was to test the effectiveness of Zn, Se and Cu supplementation through reticulum-rumen pellets and its effects on the rate of cellular and humoral reactions in sheep. An experiment included 12 lambing ewes of the Merino breed at the age of two years. Zn-containing pellets were applied via rumen to three lambing ewes at the end of November, Se pellets were applied to other three lambing ewes Cu pellets to other three ewes. Three lambing ewes were control. Blood samples were taken from the v. jugularis from all the investigated ewes before bolus administration, in month 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 after application. Zn, Se and Cu concentrations in the blood serum were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Immune reactions were evaluated from the concentrations of serum immunoglobulins (IgC), albumin (ALB), total proteins (TP), from phagocytic activity (PA), phagocytic index (PI), migration-inhibitory test (MIT) and determination of tetrazolium-reductase activity of phagocytes (INT-test). In comparison with the starting values, the highest increase in zincemia (80%) was recorded in the lambing ewes administered zinc boluses as soon as in the 1st month after administration. A significant difference in Zn concentrations between the zinc-pellet group and the control animals was observed in the 1st month after administration (P < 0.01). An increase in Se concentrations in the blood serum was observed in the lambing ewes administered selenium boluses in the 1st month after administration. Se content in the blood serum of the given group of ewes was highest at the end of observation (2.72 +/- 0.29 mumol/l). A statistically significant difference in Se content between the group of selenium-bolus ewes and the control ewes was confirmed at a significance level P < 0.05 in the 1st and 2nd month of the experiment. Cu concentrations in the blood serum in the Cu-bolus ewes increased in the 1st month if compared with the starting values. The highest Cu concentration in the blood serum was recorded in the given group within month 4 to 7 of the experiment (16.53 +/- 2.72, or 21.23 +/- 4.40 mumol/l). There were significant differences in cupremia between the Cu-pellet group of ewes and the control animals (P < 0.05). In comparison with the starting values, the highest increase in TP concentrations were determined in the Cu-pellet ewes in the 4th, 6th, and 7th months. Albuminemia dynamics in the experimental animals and in the control group did not vary significantly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Biologic quality of colostrum and calves from dairy cows injected with zinc during pregnancy]. / Biologická plnohodnotnost mledziva a teliat od dojníc injekcne osetrených zinkom pocas gravidity.

The effects of an administration of the Zindep inj. preparation (Biotika) were evaluated in pregnant dairy cows as exerted on specific weight, total protein (TP) content, total immunoglobulin (IgC) and albumin (ALB) contents in colostrum. These parameters were also followed: calf's health, live weight, leucocyte (Lc) counts, T-lymphocyte (T-Ly) counts, contents of TPs, IgCs and ALBs in the blood serum of calves. Zinc concentrations were determined in colostrum, milk and calf blood serum. Our observations included 16 dairy cows in the seventh month of pregnancy in the second lactation and their calves in the winter feeding season. Eight experimental dairy cows were treated with the Zindep preparation in form of an injection to the neck muscles at a dose of 3 mg Zn/kg live weight in the mid-seventh month of pregnancy. Blood samples were taken from v. jugularis from all calves before their first drinking, on days 5, 15 and 30 of age. Colostrum, and/or milk samples were obtained by drawing of the colostrum or milk from the udder quarters within 60 minutes after parturition, on days 5 and 15 of lactation. Zn levels at birth were 16.48 +/- 2.67 mumol/l in experimental calves and 13.84 +/- 3.19 mumol/l in control calves. Zincaemia decreased slightly in both groups on days 5 and 15 of age, but it was insignificantly higher in calves coming from Zindep-treated dairy cows. Zn levels in the blood serum on the 30th day of age were 18.45 +/- 2.44 mumol/l in experimental animals and 15.73 +/- 3.11 mumol/l in control animals. Zn content in the colostrum of experimental cows was 2.40 +/- 0.42 mg/l and in the control it was 1088 +/- 0.52 mg/l (P < 0.05). On day 5 of lactation, Zn amounts in the milk of experimental dairy cows decreased to 0.95 +/- 0.12 mg/l and to 0.76 +/- 0.10 mg/l in the control (P < 0.01). Zn levels in the milk of experimental cows on day 15 of lactation were 0.95 +/- 0.13 mg/l and in the milk of control group they were 0.82 +/- 0.14 mg/l. Colostrum specific weight from zinc-treated cows was 1,067.86 +/- 0.75 g/cm3 and 1,056.8 +/- 13.53 g/cm3 in the control. TP and IgC concentrations were 137.81 +/- 38.11 g/l and 110.13 +/- 29.91 U ZST, respectively, in the colostrum of experimental group, and 105.98 +/- 32.02 g/l and 85.53 +/- 25.42 U ZST, resp., in control animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

[The effect of administration of vitamin E on levels of serum immunoglobulins and levels of phagocytic activity]. / Stúdium vplyvu aplikácie vitamínu E na koncentráciu sérových imunoglobulínov a úroven fagocytárnej aktivity.

The effect of peroral administration and parenteral implantation of vitamin E was followed as exerted on the concentration of total serum immunoglobulins and phagocytic activity of blood leucocytes in calves. Twelve calves at the age of maximally 14 days with the average live weight of 41.2 kg were included in an experiment with peroral administration; six of them were given Combinal E (Tocoferolum aceticum 40 mg in 1 ml) at a dose of 20 mg tocopherol acetate per kg live weight. Sixteen calves at the age of three months and with the average live weight of 112.6 kg were included in the second trial. The Erevit preparation was implanted intramuscularly to eight calves at the same dose as in the first experiment (Tocoferolum aceticum 300 mg in 1 ml solutions oleosae). The animals of control groups in both experiments were administered sunflower oil as a placebo, namely at the same amount as the above-mentioned preparations (no oil treatment for peroral administration, heat and pressure treatments of oil for intramuscular implantation). All the preparations lead to a significant increase in vitamin E concentrations in the blood plasma of calves in both experiments, the highest average level being recorded in 24 hours after administration (8.05, and/or 5.51 mumol/l; Tabs. I and IV). The level of total serum immunoglobulins was not influenced by vitamin E supplementation; this level remained below the physiological range of values in calves with peroral administration during the whole time of observation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Mineral profile of serum in experimental copper intoxication of sheep from industrial emissions.

We studied the dynamics of Cu, Fe, Zn, Mo, As, Cd, Pb and Se in the serum of sheep during experimental copper (Cu) intoxication from emissions from a Cu factory. From the food and the dosed emission, the daily intake was 466.8 mg Cu, 1253.93 mg Fe, 11.67 mg Zn, 0.74 mg Mo, 34.75 mg As, 0.091 mg Cd, 2.13 mg Pb, and 2.57 mg Se/experimental ewe. After the onset of Cu intoxication the first ewe died on the 65th d and the last one on the 84th d of the experiment. Hypercupremia was observed from the 50th d after the beginning of emission administration. Significant changes were observed in serum Cu on the 50th, 70th and 77th d (P less than 0.01). Changes in the dynamics of the other elements were recorded at the end of the cumulative phase and during the hemolytic crisis by also determining Fe, Zn, Mo, As, Cd, Pb and Se in serum of the Cu-poisoned sheep.

Interactions between copper and selenium in sheep in the course of experimentally-produced copper intoxication.

This work evaluated the effect of interactions between copper (Cu) and selenium (Se) in the course of experimentally-produced Cu intoxication with industrial emissions on the animals' life spans and the Cu and Se concentrations in serum, liver and kidneys. We selected 15 Valaska ewes 1.5 y old. After the morning feeding all the animals were given emissions from a nearby Cu plant that contained 16.5% Cu and 0.0093% Se. Seven of the animals (group B) were given 5 ml SELEVIT injectable (Biotika, Slovenska Lupca)/head before starting the experiment and again on days 30 and 60. In the animals without Se supplementation (group A) the daily Cu and Se intakes from the emission and food were 466.0 mg and 2.56 mg, respectively. The average life span of the sheep in group A was 77 d and in group B it was 79.83 d. The first death due to intoxication occurred on the day 65 in group A and on day 69 in group B. During the emission feeding period no statistically significant differences were observed in cupraemia between the ewes with Se supplementation and those without it. Hypercupraemia was found in both groups from day 50 till death. Only at the end of the experiment was the serum Cu of group A statistically lower than that in group B. Cu concentrations in the liver and kidneys (dry matter) of the sheep that died with Cu intoxication in group A was 2138 +/- 1090.96 mg/kg and 272.94 +/- 197.16 mg/kg, and in group B they were 2603 +/- 1332.9 mg/kg and 341.65 +/- 307.45 mg/kg, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)