A. K. Chakraborty

Chronic arsenicosis in cattle with special reference to its metabolism in arsenic endemic village of Nadia district West Bengal India

Thirty Milch cattle were selected randomly from a village of Nadia district of West Bengal, India containing high arsenic in water and soil samples. Milk, feces and hair samples were collected to analyze arsenic status in animals. Water and straw samples were also estimated for arsenic. Milk products prepared from milk of cattle rearing in arsenic prone village were also collected to quantify total arsenic and speciation of arsenic in milk and feces samples were also carried out. It was observed that high amount of arsenic was present in milk, feces, hair of cattle and water and straw samples in arsenic prone village. Milk product also contained significant amount of arsenic than that of milk product of control village. Speciation study revealed arsenite fraction was mainly eliminated through milk, whereas organoarsenic species were mainly excreted through feces.

Quantitative imaging of arsenic and its species in goat following long term oral exposure

Severity of arsenic toxicity was reported to vary depending on its species. The present study reflects the status of different species of arsenic in goat following long-term exposure of arsenic leading to hepatic damage. The experiment was conducted with six black Bengal goats, which were administered with sodium arsenite orally at a dose rate of 2 mgkg(-1) daily for 84 days. Faeces, urine, hair and blood samples were collected from those animals at 14 days interval. Excretion of total arsenic was reduced from 56 days onwards through both faeces and urine indicating higher accumulation of arsenic in body. The speciation study revealed that urinary arsenic was mainly of organic type, whereas hair accumulated almost equal proportion of arsenite, arsenate and organo arsenicals. Goats excreted high proportion of organo arsenicals through faeces possibly due to hepatobiliary secretion of organo arsenic into the gut. Significantly elevated serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities (p<0.05) along with histopathological changes in liver indicated hepatotoxicity. The arsenite fraction increased and organic proportion decreased in urine as the time progressed, which indicates that arsenite gets methylated in liver of goat. The study thus alluded that the toxicity of arsenic would aggravate if the animals were exposed for long time as the hepatotoxicity progressed resulting in decreased methylation and formation of organo arsenicals and decreased excretions through urine.

Effect of environmental exposure of arsenic on cattle and poultry in Nadia district, West Bengal, India

A study was undertaken to evaluate an alternative source of arsenicosis in human food chain through livestock. Thirty milch cattle and 20 poultry birds along with their eggs were selected randomly from two endemic villages of Nadia district and one nonendemic villages of Hooghly district in West Bengal, India. Milk, feces, urine, and hair samples of cattle and feed materials, such as water and straw, were collected to analyze arsenic status. Arsenic concentration in egg yolk and albumen from poultry eggs and different poultry organs after culling was estimated. Distribution of arsenic in animal body indicates that major portion of arsenic was eliminated through feces, urine, and milk. Poultry egg yolk, albumen, and poultry products retain arsenic in all organs. Cows and poultry birds reared in endemic zone retain significantly higher concentration of arsenic. Consumption of egg, agricultural produces grown in contaminated soil, and milk might have produced arsenicosis and may be considered as alternative source of arsenic contamination.

Hepatoprotective effect of Enliv® on paracetamol-induced liver damage in broiler chicks

Enliv is a poly-herbal formulation that exists in a powder form. It contains the aqueous extract of eight potent medicinal plants: Aphanamixis polystachia, Phyllanthus niruri, Eclipta alba, Andrographis paniculata, Picrorhiza kurroa, Tinospora cordifolia, Naregamia alata, and Emblica officinalis. Some of these plants have been known to possess antihepatotoxic properties and have been used in the indigenous system of medicine. In the present study, attempts are made to ascertain the hepato-protective effect of Enliv in paracetamolinduced hepatotoxicity in broiler chicks. Healthy, vaccinated, day-old broiler chicks (n=45) weighing 4142 g, were divided into three groups of 15 birds each and maintained under standard laboratory conditions. Group I served as the control group, while Groups II and III were considered as the experimental groups. Daily feed intake and weekly body weight gain of the chicks were recorded. Feed efficiency ratio (FER) was calculated by using the conventional formula. Birds of Groups I, II and III were sacrificed, one at a time on the 24, 23 and 27 day respectively. A portion of the liver was collected from each bird immediately after sacrifice; from this, a small portion of it was preserved in 10% formalin for histopathological examination, while the remaining part was utilized to estimate biochemical assays such as, reduced glutathione content (GSH), protein (microestimation), aminotransferase acitivity, lipid peroxidation and protein (macroestimation). Liver samples, preserved in 10% formalin were processed, cut into 3-5 mm thick sections, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. P<0.05 was considered significant. Group I (Control), fed with starter feed mixed with Enliv 1 kg/ton feed (oral) followed by 50% ethanol (2.5 ml/kg) i.p., on 22 day; Group II, fed with starter feed (oral) followed by paracetamol 250 mg/kg in 50% ethanol i.p., on 21 day; Group III, fed with starter feed mixed with Enliv 1 kg/ton feed (oral) followed by paracetamol 250 mg/kg in 50% ethanol i.p., on 25 day; Values with dissimilar superscript vary significantly (P<0.01) from each other, n=15 in each group. Enliv-treated birds (Group III) showed lower feed efficiency ratio (P<0.01) compared to the feed efficiency ratio of the control group. [Table 2] Paracetamol-treated birds (Group II) showed decreased activity of (P<0.01) of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and reduced glutathione content and an increase (P<0.01) of lipid peroxidation levels of liver tissue. Enliv pretreatment (Group III) significantly (P<0.01) reversed the paracetamol-induced Hepatoprotective effect of Enliv on paracetamol-induced liver damage in broiler chicks Research Letter

Chronic Arsenicosis of Cattle in West Bengal and It's Possible Mitigation by Sodium Thiosulfate.

Thirty milch cows having arsenic concentration in hair varying from 3 to 4 mg/kg from Dakhin Panchpota village of Nadia district, West Bengal, were divided into three equal groups where high amount of arsenic is reported to be present in soil and ground water. Groups II and III received, respectively, sodium thiosulfate 20 and 40 g to each animal for 30 days as a pilot study, whereas group I served as untreated control. Arsenic content of milk, feces, hair, and urine was estimated before and after administration of sodium thiosulfate orally at two dose level once daily for 1 month. Paddy straw, mustard oil cake, and water fed by animals were also assayed. Sodium thiosulfate significantly decreased arsenic load in milk, urine, and hair after 1 month. In milk, arsenic concentration was decreased significantly which may be beneficial for animal and human beings.

Disposition kinetics of sparfloxacin in healthy, hepatopathic, and nephropathic conditions in chicken after single intravenous administration

Objective: To study the variation of disposition kinetic values of sparfloxacin in healthy, hepatopathic, and nephropathic chickens after a single intravenous administration. Materials and Methods: Hepatotoxicity was induced by the administration of paracetamol (500 mg / kg / day, p.o. for seven days) and nephrotoxicity by uranyl nitrate (2.0 mg / kg / day dissolved in distilled water, i.v. for four days) in chickens. Disposition kinetic studies of sparfloxacin were investigated in healthy as well as hepatopathic and nephropathic birds after a single intravenous administration at 40 mg / kg body weight. Results: Maximum plasma concentration detected at 0.16 hour was 31.25 ± 2.95, 61.95 ±1.85, and 99.86 ± 2.21 μg / ml in healthy, hepatopathic, and nephropathic group, respectively. The drug could not be detected in the plasma of healthy birds beyond 12-hour period, while the same was detectable for 72 hour in the plasma of hepatopathic and nephropathic birds. The concentration of sparfloxacin was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in all the samples of hepathopathic and nephropathic birds compared to healthy birds. All the kinetic values were increased (P < 0.01) in the hepatopathic and nephropathic birds, except Vdarea and ClB values in hepatopathic Birds; while β and ClB values nephropathic birds were decreased significantly than that of healthy birds. Conclusions: The dose of sparfloxacin may be reduced in hepatopathic as well as nephropathic birds.

Toxicokinetics and recovery studies of dicamba dimethyl amine salt in goats following single oral administration

BACKGROUND Toxicokinetics and recovery studies of dicamba dimethyl amine salt (DDAS) were conducted to obtain more information about its toxicity and tissue retention in farm animals. RESULTS The minimum oral toxic dose level of DDAS was determined as 1400 mg kg(-1) body weight. In the toxicokinetic study, blood DDAS concentration of 55.6 +/- 0.59 microg mL(-1) (mean +/- standard error) was detected at 0.08 h, which peaked to 102.3 +/- 5.03 microg mL(-1) at 0.25 h, and declined to a minimum of 4.1 +/- 0.06 microg mL(-1) at 36 h. In recovery studies, DDAS concentration in urine began to increase significantly (P < 0.05) from 12 h, peaked at 24 h and declined from 48 h onwards. Maximum excretion through faeces was at 24 h and was complete by 144 h. The residual level in tissues decreased significantly (P < 0.05) on day 7 as compared to day 4. In histopathological studies, cellular alterations in lungs, liver, kidney, adrenal gland and spleen were found. CONCLUSION DDAS persists in the body for a shorter period and its major excretory route is through urine. DDAS has lower affinity to accumulate in tissues, and intensity of cellular alterations is not severe after single-dose oral administration.

Disposition Kinetic of Cloxacillin in Healthy and Nephropathic Goats with Immunological and Residual Level in Blood and Tissues

In the present investigation, we evaluated the efficacy of pharmacokinetic profile in healthy as well as nephropathic black-Bengal goats (n=6) of either sex through single intravenous route along with metabolism aspects in all vital organs as well as urine. Nephropathic goats resulted higher B (41.03 ± 3.87 µgmL -1 ), t 1/2 I² (1.17 ± 0.06hr) and low I² (0.59 ± 0.03 hr -1 ) and Cl B (25.70 ± 2.86 mlh -1 kg -1 ) compared to healthy goats. Continuous administration via intramuscular route up to 60 days revealed biochemical, hematological, histopatholocial changes in therapeutic (TP) as well as below therapeutic dosage (HTP) level in black-Bengal goats. Present study also revealed immunosuppressive effect during 60 days continuous intramuscular administration and confirmed stimulatory effect on hepatic microsomal enzyme system.

Hematobiochemical, immunological, antioxidant status, and residues of flumethrin following weekly dermal application in goats

Flumethrin is used extensively in livestock periodically, which may cause adverse effect in goats and subsequently to human being through food chain. Flumethrin at 1.0% solution was applied weekly dermally for 84 days and hematobiochemical as well as immunological parameters, anti-oxidant status, liver enzymes, and tissue residues in goats were estimated. Flumethrin did not produce changes in hemogram except decreased total leukocyte count. Serum protein level was decreased, but serum AST and ALT activities were increased at the end of the study period. IgG level was decreased from the last 2 weeks. But flumethrin did not produce any effect on antioxidant status, as evident from nonsignificant changes in catalase, lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase, and reduced glutathione level in liver. Liver AST and ALT activities increased and cytochrome P450 content decreased on day 85. Histopathological study revealed mild changes in liver. Low level of residues of flumethrin was detected in vital tissues following high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis. Flumethrin could not be detected in tissues after 21 days withdrawal period. It may be concluded that flumethrin produces mild changes in various biochemical and immunological parameters from the last 2 weeks of study period and did not have a tendency to accumulate in the different tissues following weekly dermal application for 3 months.

Toxicokinetics and metabolism of fenpyroximate in rats following a single oral administration

Disposition kinetics and metabolism studies of fenpyroximate were carried out in albino rats after a single oral administration at 96 mg kg−1 body weight. Fenpyroximate was detected in the blood of rats at 0.25 h (2.58 ± 0.18 µg mL−1), reaching a maximum concentration at 24 h (21.62 ± 3.26 µg mL−1) and minimum at 144 h (1.44 ± 0.15 µg mL−1) after a single oral administration. Metabolite (α-hydroxy-p-toluic acid) in terms of parent compound was detected in blood samples at 0.25 h (1.25 ± 0.15 µg mL−1), maximum at 24 h (7.80 ± 0.32 µg mL−1) and minimum at 168 h (1.02 ± 0.14 µg mL−1) after a single oral administration of fenpyroximate at 96 mg kg−1. The absorption rate constant (K a) was 0.057 ±0.006 h−1. The Vd area (18.28 ± 2.21 L kg−1) and t 1/2 β (30.92 ± 3.67 h) values suggested a wide distribution and long persistence of the compound in the body, respectively. The higher Cl H (0.40 ± 0.03 L kg−1 h−1) compared to Cl R (0.006 ±0.0008 L kg−1 h−1) value indicated that the major portion of fenpyroximate was excreted through feces (23.44%) compared to urine (0.925%). The metabolism rate constant (K m) was 0.074 ± 0.008 h−1, and the V m and t 1/2 β m values of the metabolite were 48.28 ± 4.98 L kg−1 and 48.32 ± 4.04 h, respectively, which suggested a wide distribution and long persistence of the metabolite in blood and tissues of rat. The metabolism rate was poor. Total body clearance of metabolite in terms of parent (0.692 ± 0.071 L kg−1 h−1) values suggested that metabolite would not remain much longer in the body than that of the parent compound. Fenpyroximate residue was detected in all tissues of rats at 0.25 h up to 168 h, while the metabolite, α-hydroxy-p-toluic acid was detected in all tissues at 0.25 h, but it was not detected in the skeletal muscle at 96 h onwards and in the heart, lung, brain, fat, bone, and stomach at 168 h. Tissue half-life of fenpyroximate in rats varied from 24 to 42.4 h.