Chronic arsenicosis in cattle: possible mitigation with Zn and Se.

Supply of arsenic free water in the arsenic endemic zone of West Bengal since a long time could not prevent arsenicosis in human completely. So exploration of arsenic contamination at all levels of food chain may be important. The report on arsenicosis in cattle of arsenic affected zone is scarcely available. In the present study, cattle from villages of two arsenic endemic blocks (Chakdah and Haringhata) in Nadia district of West Bengal were selected. The cattle affected with arsenicosis were identified and isolated. They were divided into two groups: untreated control group and treated group-was treated with mixture of zinc oxide (10mg/kg) and sodium selenite (0.1mg/kg) orally once daily for 180 days. Milk, faeces and hair samples were collected at different time intervals from those cattle for analysis of arsenic. Drinking water and straw of those areas were also collected for analysis of arsenic. Serum ALT and AST were estimated in collected blood samples of the cattle. The untreated control group had shown gradual accumulation of total arsenic in hair while the treated group showed a non-significant but declined accumulation of arsenic in hair from 90th day onwards and a significant increase (p<0.05) in total arsenic in faeces from 90th day onwards. The arsenic load considerably but non-significantly decreased in milk from 60th day onwards in the treated group. Serum AST and ALT activities were also decreased in treated cattle. It is concluded that straw is also a major source of arsenic contamination in cattle apart from drinking water and arsenic may enter into human through consumption of contaminated milk. But zinc and selenium mixture may be used to reduce arsenic load in cattle.

Chronic Arsenicosis of Cattle in West Bengal and It's Possible Mitigation by Sodium Thiosulfate.

Thirty milch cows having arsenic concentration in hair varying from 3 to 4 mg/kg from Dakhin Panchpota village of Nadia district, West Bengal, were divided into three equal groups where high amount of arsenic is reported to be present in soil and ground water. Groups II and III received, respectively, sodium thiosulfate 20 and 40 g to each animal for 30 days as a pilot study, whereas group I served as untreated control. Arsenic content of milk, feces, hair, and urine was estimated before and after administration of sodium thiosulfate orally at two dose level once daily for 1 month. Paddy straw, mustard oil cake, and water fed by animals were also assayed. Sodium thiosulfate significantly decreased arsenic load in milk, urine, and hair after 1 month. In milk, arsenic concentration was decreased significantly which may be beneficial for animal and human beings.

Chronic arsenicosis in cattle with special reference to its metabolism in arsenic endemic village of Nadia district West Bengal India.

Thirty Milch cattle were selected randomly from a village of Nadia district of West Bengal, India containing high arsenic in water and soil samples. Milk, feces and hair samples were collected to analyze arsenic status in animals. Water and straw samples were also estimated for arsenic. Milk products prepared from milk of cattle rearing in arsenic prone village were also collected to quantify total arsenic and speciation of arsenic in milk and feces samples were also carried out. It was observed that high amount of arsenic was present in milk, feces, hair of cattle and water and straw samples in arsenic prone village. Milk product also contained significant amount of arsenic than that of milk product of control village. Speciation study revealed arsenite fraction was mainly eliminated through milk, whereas organoarsenic species were mainly excreted through feces.

Development of new localized drug delivery system based on ceftriaxone-sulbactam composite drug impregnated porous hydroxyapatite: a systematic approach for in vitro and in vivo animal trial.

PURPOSE: Present investigation deals with an extensive approach incorporating in vitro and in vivo experimentation to treat chronic osteomyelitis, using hydroxyapatite porous scaffolds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hydroxyapatite was synthesized in the laboratory by wet chemical method, different porous scaffolds have been fabricated. In vitro studies include variation of porosity with interconnectivity, pore-drug interfacial studies by SEM-EDAX and drug elution studies (by HPLC) both in contact with PBS and SBF at approximately 37 degrees C. In vivo trials were based on experimental osteomyelitis in rabbit model induced in tibia by Staphylococcus aureus. Characterizations included observation of histopathology, radiology and estimation of drug in both bone and serum for 42 days by HPLC method and subsequent bone-biomaterial interface by SEM. RESULTS: It was established that lower pore percentage with a distribution of mainly micro-pores were found to be superior over the higher pore percentage both in vitro and in vivo. The criteria was matched with the 50N50H samples which had 50-55% porosity with an average pore size approximately 110 microm, having higher interconnectivity (10-100 microm), moderately high adsorption efficiency (approximately 50%) when loaded with CFS (drug combinations consisting of irreversible b-lactamase inhibitor and b-lactam antibiotic). CFS release from HAp implants were faster in PBS than SBF. Further, both the results of in vitro and in vivo drug elution after 42 days showed release higher than minimum inhibitory concentration of CFS against Staphylococcus aureus. In vivo studies also proved the superiority of CFS loaded HAp implants than parenteral group based on eradication of infection and new bone formation. CONCLUSIONS: HAp based porous scaffold loaded with CFS and designed porosity (in terms of micro- and macro-porosity, interconnectivity) was found to be an ideal delivery system which could locally, sustainably release the composite antibiotic in reliable manner both in terms of in vitro drug elution behaviour in contact with SBF and in vivo animal trial.

Toxicokinetics and recovery studies of dicamba dimethyl amine salt in goats following single oral administration.

BACKGROUND: Toxicokinetics and recovery studies of dicamba dimethyl amine salt (DDAS) were conducted to obtain more information about its toxicity and tissue retention in farm animals. RESULTS: The minimum oral toxic dose level of DDAS was determined as 1400 mg kg(-1) body weight. In the toxicokinetic study, blood DDAS concentration of 55.6 +/- 0.59 microg mL(-1) (mean +/- standard error) was detected at 0.08 h, which peaked to 102.3 +/- 5.03 microg mL(-1) at 0.25 h, and declined to a minimum of 4.1 +/- 0.06 microg mL(-1) at 36 h. In recovery studies, DDAS concentration in urine began to increase significantly (P < 0.05) from 12 h, peaked at 24 h and declined from 48 h onwards. Maximum excretion through faeces was at 24 h and was complete by 144 h. The residual level in tissues decreased significantly (P < 0.05) on day 7 as compared to day 4. In histopathological studies, cellular alterations in lungs, liver, kidney, adrenal gland and spleen were found. CONCLUSION: DDAS persists in the body for a shorter period and its major excretory route is through urine. DDAS has lower affinity to accumulate in tissues, and intensity of cellular alterations is not severe after single-dose oral administration.