The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation with an organic form of manganese on its concentration in blood, hair, and organs of goat kids. A total of 27 kids were divided into control and experimental groups on the day of their birth (Day 1). The kids were on mother’s milk only diet until the day of weaning (Day 70). After weaning the kids received pellets at doses 0.3 kg/head/day for next 70 days. The control group received pellets (manganese content 36.7 mg/kg) and the experimental group received pellets with extra manganese addition in the form of manganese proteinate at the amount of 220 mg/kg. Blood samples were taken on days 1, 70, 105, and 140; hair samples on days 1, 70, and 140. At the end of experiment, 7 kids from each group were slaughtered and samples of heart, liver, spleen, pancreas, kidney, muscle, and brain were taken. Manganese concentration was determined from fresh tissues after microwave digestion by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Kids of the experimental group had a significantly higher manganese concentration in the liver (4.90 vs. 3.06 mg/kg), heart (0.47 vs 0.28 mg/kg), kidney (1.29 vs. 0.87 mg/kg), brain (0.33 vs 0.26 mg/kg), and hair (4.25 vs. 3.14 mg/kg) compared to the control group. The manganese concentration in blood was not affected by supplementation. Results of this study indicate that using the mentioned organs and hair for evaluation of the manganese status in an organism is more suitable than the determination of manganese concentration in blood.
Summary. Wild birds in two adjacent locations of the Bukovske Vrchy Hills in the East Carpathians (Slovakia) were investigated for blood parasites in the post-breeding period. In 2001, 595 birds were investigated at Ruske. In 2003, 289 birds were investigated in K urnikow Beskid. In Ruske, parasites of the genera Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon and Plasmodium were found at prevalences of 21 %, 6 % and 0.5 %, respectively. In Kurnikow Beskid, the prevalences of infections with the parasites of genera Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon and Trypanosoma were 17 %, 0.7 % and 0.3 %, respectively. Parasite species found in blood smears of the birds included Haemoproteus attenuatus, H. balmorali, H. belopolskyi, H. fringillae, H. picae, H. zosteropis , Leucocytozoon dubreuili, L. fringillinarum, L. majoris and occasionally also Plasmodium sp. and Trypanosoma sp. Except for H. fringillae, all found species of hematozoa are priority findings for Carpathians. This is the first report of finding of H. zosteropis in Hippolais icterina.
The aim of this study was to establish reference interval for biochemical parameters in blood of alpacas on the basis of large population of clinically healthy animals, and to determine the influence of sex, age and season on nitrogen and lipid metabolites, enzymes, electrolytes, vitamins and minerals in blood of alpacas. Blood samples were collected from 311 alpacas (61 males and 201 females >6 months of age and 49 crias (21 males and 28 females) ⩽6 months of age). Selected farms were located in Central Europe (Czech Republic and Germany). We determined 24 biochemical parameters from blood serum. We performed the comparison of results by the sex of animals and for the older group also the comparison of the results with regard to the season, respectively, to the feeding period. We found no highly significant difference (P<0.01) between males and females with the exception of γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and cholesterol. We found 15 significantly different parameters between the group of crias 6 months of age and the older alpacas. Based on our findings we suggest for most parameters to use different reference intervals (especially ALP, cholesterol, total protein, globulin, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), GGT and phosphorus) for the two above-mentioned age groups. Another important finding is the differences between some parameters in older group of alpacas in summer/winter feeding period. Animals in the summer feeding period have higher values of parameters related to fat mobilization (β-hydroxybutyrate, NEFA) and liver metabolism (bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase). The winter period with increased feeding of supplements with higher amount of fat, vitamins and minerals is characteristic by increased values of cholesterol, triglycerides, vitamins A and E, and some minerals (K, Ca, Mg and Cl) in blood serum. Clinical laboratory diagnosis of metabolic disturbances may be improved with use of age-based reference values and with consideration of seasonal differences.
The haematological parameters of the common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), the dynamics of changes in blood count parameters with regard to the season of the year and reproduction status, and the effects of sex and body condition on the haematological parameters of blood were studied. In total, 574 blood samples were collected. The samples were collected from pheasants from the age of 6 months, prior to the laying period, and after the laying period. Packed cell volume and haemoglobin concentration significantly increased in males during the period of growth and decreased during the period of reproductive activity. Significantly higher values were detected in males compared to females in erythrocyte count, packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration and in mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration. A statistically significant positive relationship was detected between weight and the values of most of the parameters related to red blood cells.
Effect of various doses and forms of selenium (organically bound vs. inorganic) on selected parameters of ruminal fluid and blood in sheep was evaluated. The trial was performed with 15 sheep divided into two groups. Animals from group A (n = 8) received a feeding mixture with selenomethionine, while sheep from group B (n = 7) were fed a mixture with sodium selenite. During the first 14 days, animals from both groups were fed a mixture with optimum dose of selenium (1 mg Se/kg dry matter). For another 28 days, all experimental animals received a Se-deficient mixture (0.1 mg Se/kg dry matter), whereas in the last 21 days of the experiment, animals were fed a high-Se diet (5.0 mg Se/kg dry matter). Throughout the trial, 4 samples of blood and ruminal fluid were taken from each animal. The samples of ruminal fluid were analyzed to determine the concentration of Se and identify other parameters of ruminal fermentations. Selenium levels were also determined in ruminal biomass. In blood, Se concentration, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, and other selected biochemical parameters were measured. The results of the present study demonstrate that the actual intake of both organic and inorganic Se is reflected in Se concentration in ruminal fluid and ruminal biomass and, similarly, in Se content and GSH-Px activity in blood. The form of supplemented selenium did not have a significant effect on ruminal fermentation parameters in dependence on different doses of Se contained in feeding rations (except for the negative effect of a sudden start of feeding high levels of organically bound Se on infusoria count, which was accompanied by the increase of GMT, LDH, and AST enzymes activity in ruminal fluid). The results also suggest possible negative interaction between the intake of organically bound selenium and the concentration of copper in blood of sheep.
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