effect of magnesium sulfate in treatment of experimental oleander [nerium oleander] poisoning in sheep

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was evaluation of magnesium sulfate effect in treatment of acute oleander intoxication in sheep. Eleven young native sheep randomly divided into 2 groups, 6 sheep being allocated to the treatment group and 5 served as controls. Sheep of both groups were dosed with a lethal dose of 110mg/kg body weight of dried oleander leaves. In sheep of treatment group, following development of ventricular arrhythmias, magnesium sulfate was slowly administered intravenously with dose rate of 100mg/kg body weight. Clinical signs of toxicosis were developed within 30 -40 minutes after dosing of the plant. Serial electrocardiography revealed various abnormalities and arrhythmias of cardiac rhythm in sheep of control group. Animals of control group died within 4.5 to 12 hours [median 8.5 hours] after receiving the toxic material. Administration of magnesium sulfate in sheep of treatment group suppressed ventricular arrhythmias to benign ones or normal sinus rhythm but its effect was transient and persisted for 3 to 3.5 hours. Second injection of magnesium had same effect but there was no considerable therapeutic effect after third injection of the drug. Sheep of treatment group died within 18 to 34 hours [median 24.5 hours] after receiving the oleander. Statistical analysis revealed a highly significant difference in survival time between the control and the treatment groups [p < 0.004]. The results suggested that magnesium sulfate can be used as a complementary therapeutic agent for treatment of acute oleander toxicosis in farm animals. Artificial insemination [AI] is a selective method which has been used in commercial rabbitries and for research purposes. The results of pregnancy rates were observed here which were comparable with natural mating. This experiment is conducted to provide the potentials of AI in the breeding center and also to compare this technique with on going natural mating method. One hundred sexually matured Dutch does were randomly divided into two equal groups. Does from experimental group were inseminated with diluted fresh semen and single dose of 0.2 ml of GnRH analog [Receptal] to each/doe was immediately injected intramuscularly. Does of control group were naturally mated with mature Dutch bucks. The environmental conditions were same in the both groups. The results of study showed that the 62% of does in control group had developed pregnancy where as in AI group 60% were pregnant. This result indicates the conception rate is similar in both groups and differences are not statistically significant