1.
Serum Biochemical Metabolites, Electrolytes And Minerals Profiling In Heat Stressed Donkeys (Equus Asinus)
by Naz Fatima | Dr. Muhammad Shahbaz Yousaf | Prof. Dr. Habib-ur-Rehman | Faculty of Biosciences.
Material type: ; Format:
print
; Literary form:
drama
Publisher: 2012Dissertation note: Background
In developing countries, equines are used as a companion animal, for transportation, carrying goods, pulling carts and to ride. Heat stress (HS) is the major problem of tropical and subtropical region that adversely affects the performance of livestock by altering the physiological indices.
Objective
The current study is designed to report the dynamics of different physiological indices including serum electrolytes, minerals, biochemical metabolites, hepatic enzymes and thyroid hormones in heat stressed (HSd) donkeys (Equus asinus).
Materials and Methods
A total of 20 donkeys were involved (10 healthy and 10 clinically diagnosed as HSd), irrespective of their gender and age, in the current study. The health of the donkeys was evaluated by observing vital signs including body temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate and hematocrit. Blood was collected from each animal during summer season in August and serum was harvested by centrifugation, of clotted blood, at 4,000 rpm for 20 minutes. Serum samples were stored at -20°C for analysis. Serum electrolytes and minerals were determined using flame photometry and atomic absorption spectrophotometer, respectively, after wet digestion of serum. Serum biochemical metabolites and hepatic enzymes were evaluated using commercial kits, spectrophotometrically. Serum thyroid hormones concentrations were determined using commercial ELISA kits. Normal distribution of the data was confirmed by Shapiro-Wilk test. Data was analyzed using Independent Student's t-test by employing Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Data was presented as means ± SE. Differences were considered significant at P < 0.05.
Results
Results revealed significantly higher heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature and hematocrit in heat stressed donkeys. Results revealed that serum sodium and potassium concentrations were significantly lower and serum calcium, magnesium and iron concentrations were significantly higher in heat stressed donkeys. However, there was no significant difference in Na/K ratio and serum chloride in HSd donkeys. Results revealed significantly higher serum total proteins, albumin, globulins concentrations, A/G ratio, LDL-cholesterol levels, T3, T4, AST, ALT, and ALP activity and homocysteine concentrations in heat stressed donkeys. However, serum HDL-Cholesterol and triglycerides levels were significantly lower. No significant difference in concentrations of serum glucose and cholesterol was observed.
Conclusion
Heat stress decreases electrolytes concentration and increases homocysteine and LDL-cholesterol levels that may account for increased risk of cardiovascular manifestations.
Availability: Items available for loan: UVAS Library [Call number: 1437,T] (1).
2.
Serum Biochemical Metabolites, Electrolytes And Minerals Profile Durings Different Lactations In one-Humped Lactating Camels (Camelus Dromedarius)
by Anum Khushal | Dr. Muhammad Shahbaz Yousaf | Prof. Dr. Habib-ur-Rehman | Faculty of Biosciences.
Material type: ; Format:
print
; Literary form:
not fiction
Publisher: 2012Dissertation note: Background
Lactation is characterized by change in metabolic demands of body that induces stress in lactating animals. During lactation the body reserves of nutrients, electrolytes and minerals are lost in milk leading to depletion of reserves. Therefore, lactating animals may suffer from deficiency of nutrients, electrolytes and minerals.
Objective
The objective of the study was to report whether lactations alter the serum biochemical metabolites, electrolytes and minerals profile of one-humped lactating camels or not.
Materials and Methods
The study involved 25 healthy, one-humped lactating camels (Camelus dromidarious) selected randomly from the desert area of Bhakkar (Punjab, Pakistan). Camels were divided into five groups (each having five camels) on the basis of lactations. The study involved camels in first, second, third, fourth and fifth lactations.
Ten milliliter blood was drawn from jugular vein using sterilized needles and plane syringes. Blood samples were allowed to clot at room temperature and centrifuged at 3,000 rpm for 15 minutes. Serum was collected and stored at -20ºC till analysis. Serum biochemical metabolites and hepatic enzymes were evaluated spectrophotometrically using commercial kits and serum thyroid hormones were determined using commercial ELISA kits. Serum electrolytes and minerals were determined using flame photometery and atomic absorption spectrophotometery, respectively, after wet digestion of serum. Data was analyzed using one way analysis of variance by SPSS and significance was set at P < 0.05.
Results
Serum concentration of glucose, total proteins, albumin and globulins, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, uric acid, and thyroid enzymes did not differ among all the five lactation stages. Serum cholesterol concentration was significantly higher during second lactation compared with the first, third, forth and fifth lactations. Serum aspartate aminotransferase concentration was significantly higher during first lactation compared with the fourth lactation. Serum alanine aminotransferase concentration was significantly higher during fifth lactation compared with the first lactation. Serum concentration of minerals like calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese and selenium did not differ during any lactation. Similarly, serum electrolytes including sodium and potassium also did not differ between subsequent lactations.
Conclusion
Lactations have not much pronounced effects on the serum biochemical metabolites, electrolytes and minerals profile of one-humped lactating camels.
Availability: Items available for loan: UVAS Library [Call number: 1508,T] (1).
