Urolithiasis has a high incidence among confined sheep. It is multifactorial and may cause economic damage. Our aim was to determine the capacity of urinary acidification using ammonium chloride in sheep. Twenty-five 3-month-old male sheep were confined and randomly divided into three groups; the G200 and G500 groups received 200mg/kg/GW and 500mg/kg/GW of ammonium chloride daily for 56 consecutive days, respectively, whereas the CG group did not receive ammonium chloride. Sampling times and clinical evaluation were performed weekly, starting from the 14th day of confinement (M1 or immediately before administering ammonium chloride) until the 17th day (M9) of the feedlot. Hemogasometry, biochemical examination of serum urea and creatinine concentration and ultrasound evaluation of the urinary tract were performed. The urinalysis indicated a higher incidence of ammonium magnesium phosphate crystals at the beginning of the study, showing a migration to urate crystal formation, mainly in the G500 group because of urinary acidification. No hemogasometric, serum biochemistry, ruminal fluid, or ultrasonographic changes were observed. Urinary acidification was achieved and maintained after M7 during the administration of ammonium chloride in the G500 group, but not in the other study groups.
Although urinary crystals are habitual components, urolithiasis formation is always preceded by these concretions. We aimed to identify the change in the crystalline profile in sheep supplemented with ammonium chloride. Twenty-five male sheep aged three months, feedlot and randomly distributed into three groups were used: Control Group (CG) n = 5 did not receive Ammonium Chloride; G200 Group (n=10) (200mg/kg) of Ammonium Chloride for 56 consecutive days; G500 Group (n=10) (500mg/kg) of Ammonium Chloride for 56 consecutive days, administered daily orally. Sampling times and clinical evaluation were performed at seven days, with M0 (immediately before Ammonium Chloride), M1 (seven days after) until M8, totaling 70 days of feedlot. Urine samples were performed to identify the presence, type, and quantity of crystals. There was an increase in crystalluria in all groups in relation to time due to dietary influence, mainly in the CG, which presented more crystals of amorphous calcium phosphate and calcium oxalate. In addition, the G500 Group presented a higher presence of urate/uric acid crystals after urinary acidification, which are closely related to urinary pH.
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