Effects of feed restriction and supplementary garlic oil on blood metabolites in ewes.

The effects of garlic oil (GO) on serum fatty acids, lipid profiles and energy-related blood metabolites in feed-restricted fat-tailed ewes were investigated. For this purpose, twenty-eight dry, non-pregnant Makuei ewes (about three years of age; 45.00 ± 2.20 kg of body weight) were assigned randomly to four experimental groups including group 1 receiving basal diet as total mixed ration (TMR) without GO supplementation (control group), group 2 receiving 100% basal diet supplemented with GO (10.00 mg kg-1 BW), group 3 receiving 70.00% basal diet without GO supplementation and group 4 receiving 70.00% basal diet supplemented with GO (10.00 mg kg-1 BW). The main experimental period started eight weeks after performing adaptation and dietary allocations. Feed restriction reduced serum glucose levels along with higher serum levels of non-esterified fatty acids, triacylglycerols, ß-hydroxybutyrate, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol and very low-density of lipoprotein. Following feed restriction, the serum palmitic and oleic acids concentrations were increased. Garlic oil supplementation had a desirable effect on feed-restricted animals through lowering serum BHB and palmitic and oleic acids concentration and increasing the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in the serum. These findings demonstrated that GO had the potential to reduce body-fat mobilization, thereby lowering the risk factors for disorders associated with negative energy balance in underfed ewes in the periparturient period.

Status of oxidative stress, trace elements, sialic acid and cholinesterase activity in cattle naturally infected with Babesia bigemina.

Babesia bigemina infection (also known as Texas fever) is reported as the most prevalent and main causative agent of bovine babesiosis, worldwide. The current study was undertaken to assess indicators of oxidative stress including activities of antioxidant enzymes and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), oxidation status of biomolecules and serum levels of trace elements as well as indicators of inflammation including sialic acid (SA) contents and cholinesterase activity in cattle naturally infected with B. bigemina. An infected group comprised of 20 crossbred Holstein cattle (3-4 years old) were diagnosed to be positive by both microscopy and nested PCR assay. The infected animals were subdivided into two groups according to their parasitemia rates (<20 % and>20 %). Furthermore, 10 healthy cattle were included as the control. The infection caused severe anemia in a parasitemia-burden dependent fashion. The activities of catalase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase as well as the levels of TAC, zinc, selenium, copper and manganese were significantly decreased as the parasitemia increased, accordingly. However, the activity of superoxide dismutase as well as the levels of malondialdehyde, protein carbonylation, DNA damage and iron, were significantly elevated in a parasitemeia-burden dependent manner. Additionally, glutathione peroxidase activity was significantly elevated with the lower rate of parasitemia, but the higher rate had no significant effect as compared to control. Moreover, total, protein and lipid binding SA contents were significantly increased but the activities of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase were significantly reduced, parasitemia dependently. Conclusively, the infection was remarkably associated with the induction of anemia, oxidative stress and inflammation.

Platelet Selenium Indices as Useful Diagnostic Surrogate for Assessment of Selenium Status in Lambs: an Experimental Comparative Study on the Efficacy of Sodium Selenite vs. Selenium Nanoparticles.

Unlike in human medicine, information on the platelet selenium (Se) concentration and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, as potential biomarkers of Se status, is lacking in the field of veterinary medicine. The aims of this study were to compare the effects of sodium selenite (SeS) and Se nanoparticles (SeN) on platelet Se indices, and compare the results with those of conventional indices of Se status in sheep. Eighteen lambs with marginal Se status were assigned to a control (CON) group and two Se-treated groups administered either a single dose of Se at 0.055 mg/kg BW subcutaneously as SeS or SeN. The Se concentration and GPx activity in plasma, erythrocytes, whole blood, and platelets were assessed at 14 time points during 90 days. In Se-treated groups, Se concentrations and GPx activity increased significantly in plasma, whole blood, erythrocytes, and platelets. However, the responses in SeS group often started and peaked earlier and, in almost all time points, were more pronounced than the SeN group (P < 0.001), indicating that SeS compared to SeN was more biopotent in raising Se biomarkers. Se indices in platelets started and peaked later than those of short-term (in plasma) and earlier than those of long-term indices (in erythrocytes) indicating that platelet indices can serve as intermediate-term biomarkers of Se status. In conclusion, platelet indices of Se are promising proxy for currently used indices of Se status in sheep, regardless of Se source.

Measure of energy related biochemical metabolites changes during peri-partum period in Makouei breed sheep.

Makouei sheep is one of the famous breeds in Iran which is reared in Azerbaijan province for their meat, milk and wool. Fifty clinically healthy Makouei ewes were selected to study the variations in energy-related blood metabolites during peri-partum period. Blood was collected from Jugular vein from each sheep on day 7 before the expected lambing time, day of parturition and also day 7 postpartum to determine total protein, albumin, urea, cholesterol, glucose, triglyceride, ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and non- esterified fatty acid (NEFA) levels. Serum total protein and albumin concentrations were gradually decreased during pre-partum period and reached the lowest level after parturition (p > 0.05). Blood urea concentration was significantly decreased to the lowest level at parturition (p < 0.05). Serum cholesterol and triglycerides were gradually decreased and reached low levels after lambing (p < 0.05). Serum glucose concentrations were significantly lower at pre-partum period than post-partum (p < 0.05). The serum NEFA and BHB concentrations were higher before lambing and thereafter decreased (p < 0.05). Current findings regarding the blood parameters may expand our knowledge for the diagnosis and prognosis of reproductive and metabolic diseases in Makouei sheep during these phases.

Antiulcer properties of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. extract on experimental models of gastric ulcer in mice.

Glycyrrhiza glabra L. is used in folk medicine for treatment of stomach disorders including peptic ulcers. The hydroalcoholic extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (HEGG) was evaluated for antiulcerogenic activity and acute toxicity profile in mice. Various doses of HEGG (50-200 mg/kg) were administered orally to animals of different groups. Omeprazole and cimetidine at doses of 30 and 100 mg/kg were used as positive controls, respectively. Stomach was opened along the greater curvature then ulceration index was determined examining the inner lining of stomach. Oral administration of the extract at 1600 mg/kg did not produce toxic symptoms and mortality in mice. 2950 mg/kg was determined as the oral LD50. The HEGG (50-200 mg/kg) showed a significant reduction in ulcer index in HCl/Ethanol-induced ulcer. G. glabra extract (50-150 mg/kg) showed antiulcer activity against indomethacin-induced gastric lesions dose dependently. The extract effectively inhibited formation of gastric lesions induced by ethanol. The extract (200 mg/kg) was more potent than omeprazole (30 mg/kg). HEGG reduced the ulcer index in hypothermic stress induced gastric ulcers in mice and the antiulcer effect was comparable to that of cimetidine. The results indicated that G. glabra hydroalcoholic extract exerted an antiulcergenic effect that could be associated with increase in gastric mucosal defensive factors.

Platelet Indices of Selenium Status in Healthy and Selenium-Deficient Sheep: a Comparison with Selenium Indices in Plasma, Whole Blood, and Red Blood Cells.

Several biomarkers have been used to evaluate selenium (Se) status in livestock. However, there is no report on the potential usefulness of the Se indices of platelets in diagnosis of Se deficiency in large animals. In the current study, Se concentration and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in platelets of 38 healthy and 142 Se-deficient ewes were assessed, and their correlation with plasma Se concentration, plasma GPx activity, whole blood Se concentration, and erythrocyte GPx activity was determined. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine the optimal cutoff values of Se concentration and GPx activity of the platelets and to summarize the diagnostic performance of these biomarkers. In Se-deficient ewes, consistent with other indices, Se concentration and GPx activity in platelets were significantly lower than those of the healthy ewes. There was a positive significant correlation between Se concentration and GPx activity in platelets with plasma Se concentration, whole blood Se concentration, and erythrocyte GPx activity. Based on the ROC curve analysis, the best cutoff value to predict inadequate plasma selenium concentration was ≤0.0055 attogram/platelet for the platelet Se concentration, with a sensitivity of 100.0 %, specificity of 92.4 %, and AUC of 0.94. For platelet GPx activity, the cutoff value was ≤203.6 U/g protein with a sensitivity of 97.4 %, specificity of 77.7 %, and AUC of 0.90. The results of this study suggested that the platelet Se concentration and GPx activity can be considered a reliable and valid intermediate-term surrogate parameter in assessment of dietary Se intake in sheep.

Lead and cadmium in raw buffalo, cow and ewe milk from west Azerbaijan, Iran.

In this study, 300 raw buffalo, cow and ewe milk samples from five townships in west Azerbaijan, Iran, were analysed. Lead and cadmium were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Mean concentration of lead and cadmium in buffalo milk samples was 0.018 ± 0.001 and 0.003 ± 0.001 mg/kg, respectively. Mean concentration of lead and cadmium in cow milk samples was 0.007 ± 0.001 and 0.001 ± 0.001 mg/kg, respectively, and in ewe milk, these mean values were 0.010 ± 0.001 and 0.002 ± 0.001 mg/kg, respectively. Statistical analyses showed that lead and cadmium concentrations in buffalo milk were significantly higher than those in cow and ewe milk. Moreover, the concentration of these heavy metals in ewe milk was significantly higher than that in cow milk. It was also found that concentration of these selected toxic metals in milk increased with increasing age of the animals.

Effects of garlic supplementation on energy status of pre-partum Mahabadi goats.

To evaluate the effects of garlic on some blood metabolites in pre-partum dairy goats, the ration was supplemented with raw garlic at the doses of 0, 30, 50 and 70 g kg(-1) of Dry matter (DM) in eight pregnant Mahabadi breed goats (59 ± 1 kg initial live weight) in a replicated Latin square design during the last two months of pregnancy. Each experimental period lasted 14 days with the first 12 days used for diet adaptation and two days of data collection with a 3-days wash-out period between treatments. The results revealed a beneficial increasing effect of garlic (at the level of 70 g kg(-1) of DM) on serum glucose concentration (p < 0.05). No effects of garlic supplementation on blood non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), total triglycerides, total protein, and albumin concentration were observed, except for serum cholesterol concentration, which was reduced (p < 0.05) with 70 g kg(-1) of DM of garlic supplementation. Dry matter intake was the same between the different treatment groups and throughout the trial period. Concerning the blood indicators of negative energy balance, no significant effects were found for NEFA and BHB in pre-partum goats however, serum glucose was improved significantly, which showed that garlic supplementation may improve the efficiency of feed utilization. In conclusion, garlic, as feed additives in ruminant nutrition, holds promise for improving feed efficiency and controlling the negative energy balance.

In vitro assessment of the digestibility of forage based sheep diet, supplemented with raw garlic, garlic oil and monensin.

The effect of inclusion of garlic essential oil (EO) at 33, 66 and 100 µg mL(-1), raw garlic (GAR) at 5, 10 and 15 mg mL(-1) and monensin (MON) at 7.5 µg mL(-1) of incubation medium on organic matter digestibility (OMD) was studied with in vitro gas production, ANKOM daisy(II) and conventional in vitro (IVOMD) methods. The material was incubated with sheep ruminal fluid and the experimental design was a completely randomized design. Cumulative gas production was recorded at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24, 36, 48, 72 and 96 hours of incubation. Conventional in vitro OMD was determined after 48 hours incubation in acid and pepsin solutions. Samples for Daisy(II) OMD prepared according to the operating instructions supplied by ANKOM(®) Tech. Co., Fairport, USA. Compared to in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), Daisy(II) and gas production techniques overestimated (P < 0.05) OMD. The addition of EO and MON reduced (P < 0.05) the organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid-detergent fiber (ADF) digestion, and gas production volume. The potential of gas production and rate of gas production for EO and MON were the lowest; however, these variables were higher for GAR supplemented groups. It was concluded that raw garlic could be of great interest for its usage as a modulator of ruminal fermentation.