R.C. Patra

Ascorbic acid, garlic extract and taurine alleviate cadmium-induced oxidative stress in freshwater catfish (Clarias batrachus).

An experiment was conducted to investigate bioaccumulation potential of cadmium (Cd) and changes in oxidative stress indices in liver and kidney tissues from Cd-exposed catfish (Clarias batrachus) with or without simultaneous treatment of water with ascorbic acid, garlic extract or taurine. C. batrachus (n=324) with average length of 20+/-4 cm and weight of 86+/-5 g were used for the present investigation. Fishes were divided into nine groups (I to IX) each comprising 36 fishes. The fishes of groups II, III, IV and V were challenged with 5 ppm of cadmium chloride monohydrate (CdCl2.H2O), whereas groups VI, VII, VIII and IX were exposed to 10 ppm CdCl2.H2O solution for a period of 45 days. Group I was kept as negative control and the fishes of this group were maintained in water containing no added Cadmium. Group II and VI were maintained as Cd exposed non treated control to serve as positive controls. Fishes of III and VII, IV and VIII, V and IX received ascorbic acid (5 ppm), extract of dried garlic (5 ppm) or taurine (5 ppm), respectively during the entire experiment period. The concentrations of Cd in liver and kidney increased significantly following exposure to Cd and the level continued to rise with the increase in exposure duration. Treatment of tank water with ascorbic acid, garlic or taurine significantly reduced the Cd concentrations in tissues compared to the positive control group, but the level in Cd exposed groups was greater than the negative control group. Fishes exposed to Cd and treated with ascorbic acid, garlic or taurine had reduced oxidative stress as evidenced from lower concentration of lipid peroxides and higher activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase in liver, kidney and erythrocytes compared to fishes exposed to Cd. The reduction in Cd induced oxidative stress was highest in ascorbic acid treated group followed by garlic and taurine treatment. The results suggest that ascorbic acid, garlic and taurine have potential to reduce tissue accumulation of Cd and associated oxidative stress in freshwater catfish.

Erythrocytic antioxidant defense, lipid peroxides level and blood iron, zinc and copper concentrations in dogs naturally infected with Babesia gibsoni

Babesiosis is a common tick borne disease of dogs in tropical and subtropical regions of the world caused by different species of Babesia. The present study aimed to examine erythrocyte lipid peroxide and erythrocytic antioxidant levels in dogs with clinical babesiosis, caused by Babesia gibsoni, and impact of the disease on blood iron, zinc and copper levels. The study was conducted on 10 naturally occurring cases of canine babesiosis with the history of tick infestation, erratic pyrexia, and prolonged illness. Microscopic examination of Giemsa stained peripheral blood smears confirmed B. gibsoni infection in the erythrocytes. Six apparently healthy dogs of different age, sex and breeds, brought for either health checkup or vaccination were used for comparison. Levels of erythrocytic antioxidant enzymes were significantly (P<0.01) higher in sick dogs than those of cytologically negative dogs (catalase: 0.192+/-0.024 units/mg Hb vs 0.074+/-0.004 units/mg Hb; superoxide dismutase: 0.014+/-0.0009 units/mg Hb vs 0.006+/-0.0008 units/mg Hb and lipid peroxide: 6.01+/-0.30 nmol MDA/mg Hb vs 1.89+/-0.10 nmol MDA/mg Hb). The levels of blood micronutrients were significantly low in these dogs (iron: 89.87+/-8.12 microg/g vs 126.44+/-14.65 microg/g; zinc: 3.67+/-1.85 microg/g vs 5.62+/-1.83 microg/g and copper: 0.55+/-0.63 microg/g vs 0.65+/-0.04 microg/g). The study demonstrated oxidative damage in dogs naturally infected with B. gibsoni. Low level of blood iron, zinc and copper seems to have an additional role in the genesis of anaemia and oxidative stress.

Biochemical profile of rumen liquor, blood and urine in experimental acidosis in sheep

Abstract Acidosis was induced experimentally in six 2.5- to 3-year-old female sheep by oral feeding of soaked wheat at 90 g per kg BW. Samples of rumen liquor, blood and urine were collected prior to grain feeding (0 h) and thereafter at 12-, 24-, 48-, 72-, 96-, and 120-h intervals. Rumen liquor, blood and urine pH declined within 12 h while lactic acid concentration in blood and urine increased significantly. Total volatile fatty acids concentration in strained rumen liquor showed a steep rise between 0 (44.16 ± 3.458 mmol 1 −1 ) and 12 h (83.00 ± 2.988 mmol 1 −1 ) followed by a declining trend till the end of the experiment. Serum analysis revealed significant increase in urea (13.98 ± 0.588 mmol 1 −1 ) and total protein (78.8 ± 2.80 g 1 −1 ) at 48 h and 24 h, respectively. Serum enzyme activities also were elevated following acidosis. Maximum serum creatinine phosphokinase (53.96 ± 8.748 IU 1 −1 ), gamma glutamine transpeptidase (68.30 ± 8.18 IU 1 −1 ), aspartate amino transferase (60.80 ± 7.651 IU 1 −1 ) and amylase (159.48 ± 18.467 IU 1 −1 ) activities were recorded at 96 h, 24 h and 24 h, respectively. Glycosuria was evident in four sheep who died during the experiment. Results of this study indicate that clinico-biochemical changes in acidotic sheep were principally attributable to lactacidaemia, hepatic and renal disfunction, and the severity was maximum between 12 and 24 h of grain feeding.

Oxidative stress indices in gastroenteritis in dogs with canine parvoviral infection

Abstract Gastroenteritis of viral origin has emerged as a major cause of morbidity and mortality in dogs during the last two decades. Amongst the viral etiologies responsible for gastroenteritis in dogs, canine parvovirus (CPV) is considered as the most pathogenic. The disease is characterized by hemorrhagic enteritis, bloody diarrhoea and myocarditis in young pups. The present study was carried out to examine alterations in oxidative stress indices in the erythrocytes from dogs suffering from gastroenteritis with or without canine parvoviral infection as confirmed by CPV-DNA amplification from faeces using specific primers for CPV-2 as well as CPV-2a and CPV-2b variants by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The present investigation utilized clinical cases of dogs with signs of acute diarrhea (n =56), and 14 more apparently healthy dogs of similar age group. Erythrocytic oxidative stress indices such as lipid peroxides level and antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase and catalase activity, and blood micro-mineral (iron, copper, cobalt and zinc) status were analyzed in each dog (n =70). The acute cases of gastroenteritis in dogs were associated with altered erythrocytic lipid peroxidation as evident by estimation of malonaldehyde (MDA) concentration. The activities of antioxidant enzymes catalase and superoxide dismutase, the first line of antioxidant defense against damaging effects of free radicals, were also altered. The alterations in oxidative stress indices were more pronounced in cases with involvement of canine parvovirus as compared to parvo-negative cases. Our results also revealed decreased blood zinc level in diarrhoea in dogs irrespective of involvement of canine parvovirus.

Mineral composition of antlers of three deer species reared in captivity

Abstract In order to study the mineral composition of antlers, nine fallen hard antler samples comprising three each of Barasingha (swamp deer, Cervus duvaceli ), Chital (axis deer, Axis axis ) and hog deer ( Axis porcinus ) reared in captivity were collected and analysed for various minerals. Dry matter, crude protein (31.99, 35.16 and 36.59%) and total ash (62.94, 62.54 and 60.27%) contents were similar among the three species, whereas the fat content was greater ( P P P

Physicochemical alterations in blood, cerebrospinal fluid and urine in experimental lactic acidosis in sheep

Ruminal acidosis was induced in six adult sheep by oral feeding of wheat grain at 90 g kg-1 body-weight. Ruminal fluid, blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and urine samples were collected before grain feeding (0 h) and thereafter at 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hour intervals. Decrease in the rumen pH was associated with decreased pH in blood, CSF and urine and increased total lactic acid concentrations in rumen liquor, blood, CSF and urine. Significantly (P < 0.05) increased levels of sodium, inorganic phosphorus and decreased levels of potassium and calcium were observed in the serum of acidotic sheep. CSF analysis revealed decreased potassium and chloride levels and increased glucose concentration and total leucocyte count within 12 hours of the grain feeding. Pandys test was positive in half of the surviving sheep at 12 hours and in all the sheep at 96 and 120 hours of observation. In urine, sodium and chloride levels decreased while potassium and inorganic phosphorus increased. The changes in the biochemical parameters started within 12 hours and lasted up to 48 to 120 hours of the observation period.