Effects on enzymes and the genetic apparatus of sheep after administration of samples from industrial emissions.

In the present work the influence of the administration of industrial emissions from a zinc and copper plant on aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase, gammaglutamyl transferase, creatine phosphokinase (CK), total bilirubin, serum zinc levels and the genetic apparatus was studied on seven ewes. Each animal was given a dose of 31.99 g of emissions per day. The first and the last animals died of zinc intoxication on days 42 and 58, respectively. Significantly increased zincemia could be observed from day 8 of the experiment (P < 0.01). In the enzymes under investigation, the most pronounced effects of the emission were seen in AST and CK activities. In comparison with the starting levels, AST values revealed significant differences on days 37 and 58 (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively), and CK on day 58 (P < 0.01). Significantly increased bilirubinemia (P < 0.01) could be observed from day 8 of the experiment. In the period prior to the first gavage of emission and day 30 of administration no significant increase of chromosome breaks per cell was observed in the experimental sheep. The genotoxic effect of the emission was also stated on the basis of recombination frequency visualized by means of the sister chromatid exchange test; on day 30, the increase of these disturbances revealed statistical significance (P < 0.01).

[Colonization of the digestive tract by defined lactoflora in gnotobiotic and conventional lambs]. / Kolonizácia tráviaceho traktu gnotobiotických a konvencných jahniat definovanou laktoflórou.

The effect of Lactobacillus casei 249/89 on the colonization of the intestinal tract and selected indicators of the metabolic profile of gnotobiotic and conventional lambs from the viewpoint of its possible utilization in the prevention of diarrhoeal syndrome of bacterial etiology in young animals has been studied. Five gnotobiotic and three conventional lambs were used in these studies. The lambs were slaughtered at 3, 6, 10, 15 and 21 days of age. The population of L. casei colonizing the intestinal epithelium was at the age dynamics on average higher in gnotobiotic lambs compared with lactobacilli in conventional lambs (Fig. 1). The significant difference (p < 0.001) was noted at the age of 3 days (gnotobiotic lambs = 3.40 log 10/cm2 and conventional lambs = 1.08 log 10/cm2). Also the counts of lactobacilli colonizing individual sections of the intestine (Fig. 2) was on average higher in gnotobiots with significant differences in jejunum and colon (p < 0.05). In both groups, the highest number of lactobacilli was observed on the intestinal epithelium in lower sections of the digestive tract. In gnotobiots, the population of L. casei colonizing the duodenum was highest at the age of 3 days (3.49 log 10/cm2), in jejunum (3.74 log 10/cm2) and in ileum 4.37 log 10/cm2) at the age of 6 days and in the colon (4.7 log 10/cm2) at the age of 15 days (Fig. 3). In conventional lambs, the population of lactobacilli colonizing individual sections of the intestinum was increasing with age (Fig. 4). The number of L. casei in the intestinal content of gnotobiotic lambs was on average higher than that in conventional animals but the differences were not significant. In both groups, the highest number of lactobacilli was noted at the age of 10 days (gnotobiotic lambs = 5.9 log 10/ml; the conventional lambs = 4.6 log 10/ml). From the viewpoint of individual sections of the intestine, the population of L. casei in the intestinal content of gnotobiotic lambs was higher than the lactobacilli count in conventional animals with significant difference in jejunum (p < 0.01). In gnotobiots, the highest lactobacilli count was in the colon (6.17 log 10/ml); in conventional lambs in the ileum (4.71 log 10/ml).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

[Zinc, selenium and copper supplementation using rumen pellets and its effect on cellular and humoral responses in sheep]. / Suplementácia zinku, selénu a medi cestou cepco-bachorových peliet a jej vplyv na úroven cellulárnej a humorálnej odpovede u oviec.

The objective of the study was to test the effectiveness of Zn, Se and Cu supplementation through reticulum-rumen pellets and its effects on the rate of cellular and humoral reactions in sheep. An experiment included 12 lambing ewes of the Merino breed at the age of two years. Zn-containing pellets were applied via rumen to three lambing ewes at the end of November, Se pellets were applied to other three lambing ewes Cu pellets to other three ewes. Three lambing ewes were control. Blood samples were taken from the v. jugularis from all the investigated ewes before bolus administration, in month 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 after application. Zn, Se and Cu concentrations in the blood serum were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Immune reactions were evaluated from the concentrations of serum immunoglobulins (IgC), albumin (ALB), total proteins (TP), from phagocytic activity (PA), phagocytic index (PI), migration-inhibitory test (MIT) and determination of tetrazolium-reductase activity of phagocytes (INT-test). In comparison with the starting values, the highest increase in zincemia (80%) was recorded in the lambing ewes administered zinc boluses as soon as in the 1st month after administration. A significant difference in Zn concentrations between the zinc-pellet group and the control animals was observed in the 1st month after administration (P < 0.01). An increase in Se concentrations in the blood serum was observed in the lambing ewes administered selenium boluses in the 1st month after administration. Se content in the blood serum of the given group of ewes was highest at the end of observation (2.72 +/- 0.29 mumol/l). A statistically significant difference in Se content between the group of selenium-bolus ewes and the control ewes was confirmed at a significance level P < 0.05 in the 1st and 2nd month of the experiment. Cu concentrations in the blood serum in the Cu-bolus ewes increased in the 1st month if compared with the starting values. The highest Cu concentration in the blood serum was recorded in the given group within month 4 to 7 of the experiment (16.53 +/- 2.72, or 21.23 +/- 4.40 mumol/l). There were significant differences in cupremia between the Cu-pellet group of ewes and the control animals (P < 0.05). In comparison with the starting values, the highest increase in TP concentrations were determined in the Cu-pellet ewes in the 4th, 6th, and 7th months. Albuminemia dynamics in the experimental animals and in the control group did not vary significantly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Biologic quality of colostrum and calves from dairy cows injected with zinc during pregnancy]. / Biologická plnohodnotnost mledziva a teliat od dojníc injekcne osetrených zinkom pocas gravidity.

The effects of an administration of the Zindep inj. preparation (Biotika) were evaluated in pregnant dairy cows as exerted on specific weight, total protein (TP) content, total immunoglobulin (IgC) and albumin (ALB) contents in colostrum. These parameters were also followed: calf's health, live weight, leucocyte (Lc) counts, T-lymphocyte (T-Ly) counts, contents of TPs, IgCs and ALBs in the blood serum of calves. Zinc concentrations were determined in colostrum, milk and calf blood serum. Our observations included 16 dairy cows in the seventh month of pregnancy in the second lactation and their calves in the winter feeding season. Eight experimental dairy cows were treated with the Zindep preparation in form of an injection to the neck muscles at a dose of 3 mg Zn/kg live weight in the mid-seventh month of pregnancy. Blood samples were taken from v. jugularis from all calves before their first drinking, on days 5, 15 and 30 of age. Colostrum, and/or milk samples were obtained by drawing of the colostrum or milk from the udder quarters within 60 minutes after parturition, on days 5 and 15 of lactation. Zn levels at birth were 16.48 +/- 2.67 mumol/l in experimental calves and 13.84 +/- 3.19 mumol/l in control calves. Zincaemia decreased slightly in both groups on days 5 and 15 of age, but it was insignificantly higher in calves coming from Zindep-treated dairy cows. Zn levels in the blood serum on the 30th day of age were 18.45 +/- 2.44 mumol/l in experimental animals and 15.73 +/- 3.11 mumol/l in control animals. Zn content in the colostrum of experimental cows was 2.40 +/- 0.42 mg/l and in the control it was 1088 +/- 0.52 mg/l (P < 0.05). On day 5 of lactation, Zn amounts in the milk of experimental dairy cows decreased to 0.95 +/- 0.12 mg/l and to 0.76 +/- 0.10 mg/l in the control (P < 0.01). Zn levels in the milk of experimental cows on day 15 of lactation were 0.95 +/- 0.13 mg/l and in the milk of control group they were 0.82 +/- 0.14 mg/l. Colostrum specific weight from zinc-treated cows was 1,067.86 +/- 0.75 g/cm3 and 1,056.8 +/- 13.53 g/cm3 in the control. TP and IgC concentrations were 137.81 +/- 38.11 g/l and 110.13 +/- 29.91 U ZST, respectively, in the colostrum of experimental group, and 105.98 +/- 32.02 g/l and 85.53 +/- 25.42 U ZST, resp., in control animals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

[The effect of Zindep inj. preparation on levels of zinc, T-lymphocytes and beta-lysine in the blood of pregnant dairy cows]. / Vplyv prípravku Zindep inj. na zinkémiu, T-lymfocyty a beta-lyzín u gravidných dojníc.

The effects of zinc administration at a rate of 3 mg/kg lw. in the preparation Zindep inj. ad usum vet. (Biotika, Slovenská L'upca) were evaluated as exerted on zinc concentrations in the blood serum of 16 dairy cows in the middle of the 7th month of pregnancy. With respect to zinc injection, T-rosetted lymphocytes and beta-lysine activity were inestigated. Blood was collected from all dairy cows from v. jugularis before the preparation was administered, on days 2, 5, 8, 15, 30 and 60 after Zindep administration. Atom absorption spectrophotometry, applying a flame technique on a Perkin Elmer 1100 apparatus (Bíres, 1986), was used to determine Zn concentrations in the blood serum of all dairy cows. T-lymphocytes were determined by a rosette test after Paul et al. (1977), and beta-lysine was detected spectrophotometrically after Bucharin et al. (1987). Zinc dynamics in the blood serum of dairy cows is presented in Fig. 1. The starting values of zinc in the test cows were 9.68 +/- 2.30 mumol/l and in the control ones 10.15 +/- 1.27 mumol/l. Zincaemia of experimental dairy cows was significantly lower (P less than 0.01) on day 2 after Zindep administration, in comparison with the control group. A significant increase in zinc concentrations in the blood serum of experimental animals, in comparison with the control ones, was observed from day 8 to day 60 (P less than 0.01). The maximum zincaemia values were recorded in experimental dairy cows within days 15 and 30 (15.65 +/- 3.33, and/or 14.55 +/- 2.10 mumol/l).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Distribution of harmful metals in sheep after experimental administration of industrial emissions]. / Distribúcia rizikových kovov v organizme oviec po príjme priemyselnej emisie v experimente.

Cu, Fe, Zn, Mo, Se, As, Cd and Pb distribution was followed in the organisms of seven lambing ewes after these animals had been on a diet with industrial contaminants generated by the copper and zinc works. The amount of ingested contaminants per lambing ewe was 31.99 g a day pursuant to the starting liveweight. Per-head daily intake of Cu, Fe, Zn, Mo, Se, As, Cd and Pb in mg: 402.02; 95.97; 6158.07; 1.436; 2.975; 15.38; 0.597; 22.14. The first ewe with symptoms of zinc intoxication died on day 42 and the last on day 58. The highest Zn concentrations were recorded in the dry matter of dead ewe liver (1167.3 +/- 314.1 mg per kg). An amount of 1048 +/- 283.7 mg Zn per kg was cumulated in the kidneys in the process of contaminant administration. High Zn contents were also observed in the uterus and spleen. The highest amounts of Cu were cumulated in liver (445.6 238.1 mg per kg). Spleen was an organ with the highest concentrations of Fe, the ovaries cumulated the highest amounts of Mo and bony tissue and ovaries the highest amounts of Se. An exposure of the organisms to As, Cd and Pb in ewes intoxicated with zinc from a source of industrial pollutants, was reflected in their high contents in the ovaries, kidneys, liver and bony tissue. These results demonstrate that in sheep the liver, kidneys, uterus, spleen and ovaries are the most suitable organs if it is to prove zinc intoxication caused by pollutants from the copper and zinc works. Liver, kidneys, ovaries, uterus, spleen, skeletal muscles and bony tissue seem to be suitable for an evaluation of Cu, Fe, Mo, Se, As, Cd and Pb distribution in the organisms of ewes which died from zinc intoxication caused by pollutants from the above-mentioned source.