[ relationship between vitamin A and zinc in plasma and liver of cattle]

Numerous abnormalities and clinical syndromes have been associated with vitamin A and zinc deficiency in large animals. In addition, zinc status influences several aspects of vitamin A metabolism including its mobilization from liver to other tissues. The purpose of the present study is to determine the vitamin A and zinc status and their relationship in cattle. Vitamin A and zinc concentrations in blood plasma and liver samples of 114 to 130 male slaughtered cattle [under 18 months old] in Urmia were assessed and their status and correlations were analyzed. In 15.6, 25.4, 5.4 and 3.8% of samples, the concentrations of vitamin A and zinc in plasma and liver were less than minimum recommended concentration, respectively. In 24.8% of samples vitamin A in liver was more than maximum recommended concentration. The mean concentrations [ +/- standard error] of vitamin A and zinc in plasma and vitamin A and zinc in liver were 59.7 +/- 4.5 microg/dL, 99.1 +/- 4.7 microg/dL, 161.9 +/- 6.2 microg/g wet weight and 103.2 +/- 4.7 microg/g wet weight, respectively. In cattle with zinc levels lower than minimum reference value, vitamin A in plasma and zinc concentration in liver were significantly [p<0.0005] less than those of cattle with normal plasma zinc levels. In cattle with inadequate zinc status a direct significant correlation [p<0.01, r=0.481] between plasma and liver vitamin A levels was observed. However, in cattle with adequate zinc status, the plasma zinc had a positive significant correlation with plasma vitamin A [p<0.01, r=0.466], liver vitamin A [p<0.01, r=0.411] and liver zinc [p<0.01, r=372]. Deficiency of vitamin A and zinc are relatively common in Urmia and the deficiency probably leads to subclinical and clinical abnormalities. Furthermore, zinc had significant effects on plasma and liver vitamin A status

[Serum protein alterations in goats naturally infected with Babesia ovis]

This study was conducted to determine the electrophoretic pattern of serum protein in goats infected with Babesia ovis. Serum total protein was calculated and serum electrophoresis from 15 goats naturally infected with B. ovis as well as same number of healthy goats was performed. Microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained peripheral blood smears revealed B. ovis infection. The parasitological diagnosis was confirmed using polymerase chain reaction [PCR] assay by using a pair of B. ovis-specific primers. Mean values total protein and alpha and gama globulin fractions in infected goats were significantly higher [P<0.05] than those observed in the healthy group

[Evaluation of correlation between serum vitamin E status and the erythrocyte osmotic fragility in sheep]

Evaluation of serum vitamin E status and its correlation with erythrocyte osmotic fragility in sheep. Observational study. Sheep. Blood samples were collected from 223 clinically healthy sheep from different ages of Gezel and Makoei breeds. The animals were assigned into 3 age groups: less than 1 year, 1 to 2 years and >2 years old. Serum vitamin E concentrations were determined using HPLC method. Osmotic fragility test [OFT] was carried out by preparing hypotonic saline solution. Mean corpuscular fragility [MCF] was assessed by OFT. Data was analyzed by SPSS, using one-way analysis of variance [Duncan's test]. Regression correlation analysis was used to estimate an appropriate equation. Mean and standard deviation of serum vitamin E in sheep less than 1 year, between 1-2 years and >2 years old were 20.78 +/- 1.46, 23.31 +/- 0.82 and 23.31 +/- 0.82 microg/ml and for MCF were 0.52 +/- 0.018, 0.47 +/- 0.018 and 0.49+/- 0.014 g/dl, respectively. Comparison of the means among three groups showed significant differences [P<0.001] for both vitamin E and MCF values. Regression correlation analysis showed that rising the age of the animals increased vitamin E Levels [r=0.64, P<0.001] and decreased MCF values [r=-0.70, P<0.001]. There was a negative correlation between vitamin E and MCF values [r=-0.91, P<0.001]. According to this finding, estimated regression equation for vitamin could be as Y= -48.24X + 46.20 [r2= 0.83, P<0.001]; Y = Vit.E [microg/ml], X = MCF [g/dl]. According to the results of this study, it can be concluded that OFT [MCF] is a cheap and easy method for evaluation of vitamin E status in sheep

Monthly variation in milk serum magnesium concentration in industrial and semi-industrial dairy Friesian herds in Urmia, northeastern Iran

Monthly variation of magnesium [Mg] concentration in milk serum was investigated in industrial and semi-industrial dairy herds of Urmia, northeastern Iran, in 2002-3. Total number of 1, 112 milk samples from 96 herds including 615 samples from 53 industrial herds and 497 samples from 43 semi-industrial dairy herds were examined. 10-ml milk samples were collected monthly up to 12 months from each herd in the milk factory. Milk fat was separated by centrifugation. Milk serum was then separated after casein was precipitated by 0.1 N HC1. Spectrophotometery was used to measure the milk Mg concentration, using Mg kit [Ziest Chimi, Iran]. The overall mean +/- SD of Mg concentration in milk serum in industrial and semi-industrial herds was 5.47 +/- 1.15 and 5.35 +/- 1.21 mmol/l, respectively. The differences in Mg concentration between breeding systems were significant [P<0.05]. The highest monthly mean Mg concentration in industrial and semi-industrial dairy herds was 6.39 and 6.05 and the lowest mean was 4.29 and 4.02 mmol/l, respectively. The lowest monthly mean Mg concentration in industrial and semi-industrial dairy milk herds was observed in August; the highest in November. The concentration decreased from March to August and then increased gradually up to November. The mean Mg concentration in milk serum within industrial, semi-industrial herds and between two breeds had a significant [P<0.001] monthly variation-mainly in August and November [P<0.05]. The lowest and highest mean seasonal milk Mg concentration in industrial [4.61, 5.83 mmol/l] and semi-industrial herds [4.53, 5.72 mmol/l] were observed in summer and winter. The mean Mg concentration in milk serum had a significant [P<0.05] seasonal variation-between summer and other seasons. Thus, it could be concluded that milk Mg concentration in industrial herds was higher than semi-industrial dairy herds. The lowest milk Mg concentration was observed in August that could be important to supplement magnesium in food of dairy herds in Urmia

[Survey of the blood GSH-PX seasonal variation and pathologic changes in the hearts and skeletal muscles of sheep in West Azarbaidjan]

Objective: to clarify the season in which GSH-PX, the index of blood selenium status, is in its critical condition. In addition specific pathological changes due to selenium, deficiency in skeletal muscle and the heart was investigated

Animals: in this study, blood sampling were taken of 2400 clinically normal sheep and 27 lambs suspected for selenium deficiency. 10 selenium deficient lambs were also autopsied for pathological changes

Procedure: GSH-PX was measured in 2400 blood samples taken of normal sheep in 3 towns in west Azarbaidjan. Blood samples were also collected from 27 lambs suspected for selenium deficiency. Ten lambs with clinical signs of selenium deficiency were necropsied and gross and microscopic changes in the hearts and skeletal muscles were studied

Statistical analysis: season's variations were analyzed by student "t" test

Results: this investigation showed that blood GSH-PX in sheep in the all understudied areas, was significaly lower in winter than summer. The lambs with clinical signs of selenium deficiency had marginal blood GSH-PX and showed extensive degenerative changes in the hearts and skeletal muscles

Conclusion: the results showed that in winter, blood GSH-PX of sheep in west Azarbaidjan declined to the critical level and in some places like Urmia lead to developing of the clinical form