BackgroundThe gastrointestinal parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus is a pathogenic organism resistant to several anthelmintics. This study assessed the efficacy of a medicinal herbal mixture (Herbmix) and organic zinc, as an essential trace element for the proper functioning of both unspecific and specific immune defensive mechanisms, against experimental infections with H. contortus in lambs. All lambs were infected orally with approximately 5000 third-stage larvae of a strain of H. contortus susceptible to anthelmintics (MHco1). Twenty-four female lambs 3–4 months of age were divided into four groups: unsupplemented animals (control), animals supplemented with Herbmix (Hmix), animals supplemented with organic zinc (Zn) and animals supplemented with Herbmix and organic zinc (Hmix+Zn). Eggs per gram (EPG) of faeces were quantified 20, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 62 and 70 d post-infection and mean abomasal worm counts were assessed 70 d post-infection. Samples of blood were collected from each animal 7, 35, 49 and 70 d post-infection.ResultsQuantitative analyses of the bioactive compounds in Herbmix identified three main groups: flavonoids (9964.7 μg/g), diterpenes (4886.1 μg/g) and phenolic acids (3549.2 μg/g). Egg counts in the lambs treated with Hmix, Zn and Hmix+Zn decreased after 49 d. The EPGs in the Zn and Hmix+Zn groups were significantly lower on day 56 (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively), and the EPGs and mean worm counts were significantly lower on day 70 in all supplemented groups (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). Hemograms of complete red blood cells of each animal identified clinical signs of haemonchosis after day 35. Serum calprotectin concentrations and IgA levels were significantly affected by treatment. The treatment influenced serum malondialdehyde concentrations (P < 0.05) and sulfhydryl groups (P < 0.01) of antioxidant status. The mineral status was unaltered in all lambs.ConclusionA direct anthelmintic impact on the viability of nematodes was not fully demonstrated, but the treatments with herbal nutraceuticals and zinc likely indirectly contributed to the increase in the resistance of the lambs to nematode infection.
Kuricová S., K. BoldiÏárová, ª. Gre‰áková, M. Levkut, ª. Leng: Chicken Selenium Satus When Fed a Diet Supplemented with Se-Yeast. Acta Vet. Brno 2003, 72: 339-346. This experiment was designed to investigate the effects of the feed supplementation with inorganic and organic forms of Se on the activity of blood glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and the Se levels in blood and tissues in young female chickens of the laying strain Isa Brown. The first group of birds received the basic diet (BD) with Se content 0.12 mg . kg -1 of dry matter (DM). Diets for Groups 1, 2 and 3 consisted of BD supplemented with sodium selenite 0.2 mg·kg -1 of DM, Se-enriched yeast 0.2 and 0.7 mg·kg -1 of DM, respectively. The experiment lasted from hatching until 7 weeks of age. The activity of blood GSH-Px was found to be dose-dependent throughout the experiment with no differences due to the form of Se administered. The selenium analysis in blood and liver samples revealed also the Se dose dependent responses but with significantly higher values recorded in chickens aged 5 weeks and older chickens and supplied with the equivalent amounts of organic Se source. Other tissue Se levels were also highest (P < 0.05) in the group with its largest intake. The values of Se content in the breast muscle were higher (P < 0.001) in chicks of Group 3 during entire experiment and they reached the doubled values than in the birds given selenite (11.54 ± 0.4 vs. 5.47 ± 0.2 µmol·kg -1 of DM, in 7-weekold birds). On the other hand, no differences in this parameter were determined between the chicks fed just BD or BD supplemented with Na 2 SeO 3 . At the end of experiment, the intake of Se-yeast (Group 3) resulted in significantly (P < 0.05) higher Se levels in the heart, in lungs and in the gizzard than BD with selenite. No effects of the form of selenium used could be found in the spleen and kidney samples of 7-week-old chicks. The results demonstrate the evident advantage of supplementation of poultry feed with the selenium-enriched yeast due to more effective Se utilization and formation of mobile body deposits of this microelement than in the case of supplementation with selenite.
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