Nurcan Dönmez

Effects of chronic fluorosis on electrocardiogram in sheep

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of chronic fluorosis by means of the electrocardiograms in sheep. Ten sheep with fluorosis living around a volcanic mountain (Tendürek Mount) in East Anatolia in Turkey and 10 healthy sheep were used. Leads I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V2, V4, and V10 were recorded in the electrocardiographs of the sheep. All waves were seen in all derivations. The P-Q interval was significantly (p<0.05) prolonged and sinus bradycardia was observed in the sheep with fluorosis. As a result of this, the number of heart beats was decreased significantly (p<0.05); that is, the number of heart beats was 110±15 in the control group and 75±10 in sheep with fluorosis.

The effects of different silage additives on rumen protozoan number and volatile fatty acid concentration in sheep fed corn silage

The main objective of this study was to determine the effects of different silage additives on protozoan population, genera and total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations and percentage of VFAs in corn silage. Four ruminally fistulated Morkaraman × Kovorcok lambs were used in a 4× 4 Latin square design with 14-day adaptation and 1-day sampling periods. The animals were offered 20% cottonseed meal and 80% corn silage with or without treatment with silage additives, ad libitum intake. Silages used in the experiment were corn silage without treatment, treated with 5% molasses, 0.05% formic acid, and 10 g/t enzyme. Total protozoan number was significantly different among treatments ( P< 0.05). It was the highest in sheep fed silage treated with molasses (313.2× 10 3 ml −1 ) and the lowest in sheep fed silage treated with formic acid (168.0× 10 3 ml −1 ). Entodinium, Epidinium, Isotricha, Dasytricha, Diplodinium, and Osphyroxscolextypes were observed in all treatments, but major protozoan genera were Entodinium, comprising 61–69% of total protozoan population. Total VFA concentration was significantly less in sheep fed enzyme-treated silage compared with other treatments. Percentage of acetic acid was significantly lower ( P< 0.05) in sheep fed silage treated with molasses compared with other treatments, but percentages of propionic acid, and butyric acid were similar among treatments. Ruminal ammonia-N concentrations ranged from 7.71 to 15.87 mg/dl and were lowest in sheep fed enzyme-treated silage among treatments ( P< 0.05). In conclusion, the highest protozoan counts were observed in the rumen of sheep fed corn silage treated with molasses.

Effects of Zinc Supplementation to Ration on Some Hematological Parameters in Broiler Chicks

The aim of the study was to examine the effects of zinc supplementation on some hematological parameters. Sixty newborn male broiler chicks were utilized in the study. Zinc (Zn) was added into drinking water at levels of 0, 125, 500, and 1000 mg/kg.In the study, there was no significant difference between control and Zn-supplemented groups in erythrocyte count, hemoglobin amount, hematocrit levels, total leukocyte count, and differential leukocyte % levels, but the α-naphthyl acetate esterase ANAE(+) lymphocyte rate significantly (p<0.05) increased in the 125-ppm Zn-supplemented group compared with the control group. In conclusion, the data obtained may be beneficial in demonstrating the effects of zinc on, at least, these parameters.

Effects of Aflatoxin on Some Haematological Parameters and Protective Effectiveness of Esterified Glucomannan in Merino Rams

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the toxic effects of aflatoxin on some hematological parameters and to determine the preventive effectiveness of added glucomannan. In the study, 32 Merino rams were used, and the rams were separated equally to four groups as control (C), glucomannan (G), glucomannan + aflatoxin (AG), and aflatoxin (A). Erythrocyte, leukocyte count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels were decreased in A group compared with the other groups, and there was a reduction in similar parameters in AG group compared to control values. On the other hand, these parameters were tended to increase in AG group compared to A group values. Aflatoxicosis caused the lymphocytopenia and monocytopenia but increased percentage of neutrophil counts. In conclusion, the results determined in the study might be important to demonstrate the effects of aflatoxicosis and glucomannan on some haematological parameters before the clinical symptoms appear.

THE EFFECTS OF AFLATOXIN AND GLUCOMANNAN ON SOME ANTIOXIDANTS AND BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN RABBITS

In this study the effects of aflatoxin added to the feed and the effects of glucomannan supplemented in order to prevent aflatoxin absorbtion on some biochemical parameters and antioxidants were studied in 40 New Zeland rabbits. The rabbits were randomly alloted to the following groups: control (C), glucomannan (G), glucomannan + aflatoxin (AG) and aflatoxin (A). At the end of the ten weeks trial MDA levels increased, GSH and SOD levels were decreased (p<0.05) in group A compared with control group levels. Cholesterol, glucose, albumin and total protein levels also decreased, AST and ALT levels were increased in group A compared with the control group. In the group G the former parameters were not affected by glucomannan application alone. On the other hand in the AG group MDA, GSH, SOD, cholesterol, glucose, albumin and total protein levels were higher, while AST and ALT levels were lower compared with the control levels, although these differences were not significant. In conclusion, the results determined in the study might be important to demonstrate the effects of aflatoxicosis on some biochemical and antioxidant parameters.

Protective effect of esterified glucomannan on aflatoxin-induced changes in testicular function, sperm quality, and seminal plasma biochemistry in rams

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of aflatoxin (AF) on spermatologic, biochemical, and testis parameters in rams, and the protective efficiency of esterified glucomannan (EG) co-administered with AF. Thirty-two Merino rams (12-14 months old) were used. The experimental design consisted of four dietary treatments. The control group was fed commercial feed. The AF group was fed with commercial feed plus 250 μg/d of total AF. The EG group received commercial feed plus 2 g/d of EG. The AF + EG group was given commercial feed plus 250 μg/d of total AF and 2 g/d of EG. There were treatment, time, and treatment-by-time interaction effects on sperm motility, abnormal spermatozoa, damaged acrosome, and dead spermatozoa (P < 0.01). The percentage of motile sperm was lower and the percentages of abnormal sperm, sperm with damaged acrosomes, and dead sperm were greater in the AF group than in the control, AF+EG, and EG groups, as from week 3 until the end of week 12 (P < 0.05). As from week 3, hyaluronidase activity in the seminal plasma increased significantly in the AF group, compared with the control. The co-administration of AF+EG was found to be effective in preventing the increase in hyaluronidase activity. As week 4, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly higher in the AF group compared with the control. The combined administration of AF+EG was found to be effective in lowering the MDA levels, increased by AF, to the levels measured in the control (P < 0.05). Although glutathione (GSH) levels were determined to have significantly decreased in the AF group in comparison to the control, it was observed that, in the group co-administered with AF and EG, particularly after week 7, the GSH levels, which had decreased owing to AF, were largely ameliorated (P < 0.05). In conclusion, AF adversely affected spermatologic, biochemical, and testis parameters, and the combined administration of EG with AF reversibly eliminated these adverse effects in rams.