Antioxidant Trace Elements in Serum of Draft Horses with Acute and Chronic Lower Airway Disease

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the oxidative stress level and antioxidant trace elements status associated with lower airway disease in draft horses. For this purpose, venous blood samples were obtained from draft horses exhibiting signs of lower respiratory tract disorders (n = 83) and from control group (n = 20). Serum trace elements including selenium (Se), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and iron (Fe) were assayed. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels as well as plasma hydrogen peroxides (H₂O₂) concentration and activity of plasma glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT) were measured. There was a significant (p < 0.05) decrease of Se, Cu, Zn, and Fe in diseased horses compared with healthy ones, but the Cu/Zn ratio and Mn were increased (p < 0.05). Se was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in chronically affected horses compared with acute cases, but Mn was increased (p < 0.05). There was an increase of MDA, LDL, and H₂O₂ levels and GR activity in diseased cases compared with healthy horses. However, there was a significant (p < 0.05) decrease of GST and CAT activity. MDA and LDL levels were increased (p < 0.05) in horses with chronic respiratory disease compared to acute cases, but CAT activity was decreased (p < 0.05). In horses with acute lower airway disease, there was a negative correlation between GR and H₂O₂ (r = -0.458), and LDL and CAT (r = -0.816). However, in chronic disease, a negative correlation was recorded between Se and MDA (r = -0.590). The results of the present study indicate that oxidative stress, with alteration of antioxidant trace element levels, is a feature of respiratory disease in draft horses.

Antioxidant Trace Elements and Oxidative Stress Levels Associated with Pasteurellosis in Camel-Calves (Camelus dromedarius)

“…The significant changes of copper/zinc ratio with changes in the indices of oxidative stress suggest various degrees of airway inflammation. A similar finding of copper/zinc ratio has been recorded in horses with airway inflammation [28]. Furthermore, zinc and copper administration could modulate the humoral immune response to vaccines in cattle as recorded previously [31,32].…”

“…Similar findings were recorded in cattle [6], and horses with respiratory diseases [28]. Neutrophilia, lymphocytopenia and eosinophilia recorded in camel-calves with pasteurellosis indicates acute infection, and inflammation secondary to tissue injury, hypersensitivity reactions and stress.…”

“…In calves with bronchopneumonia, the reported decrease in the superoxide dismutase activity was correlated with high blood level of superoxide radicals as previously described [14]. Several studies have reported reduction of these antioxidant enzymes activities in horses with lower airway disease [28], and in human patients suffering pneumonia [34].…”

“…In case of hypoxia, inflammation and insufficient antioxidant defense, hydrogen peroxide may initiate or intensify lung destruction. Furthermore, selenium deficiency with a resultant drastic decline in selenium dependent glutathione peroxidase activity produce a rise in cellular hydrogen peroxide concentration [28]. In a study conduced on buffaloes vaccinated against haemorrhagic septicaemia, polymorphonuclear cells generated significantly higher hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide, suggesting that these polymorphonuclear cells possessed a potent oxidant defense system even in the presence of Pasteurella multocida lipopolysaccharide, an antiphagocytic bacterium [38].…”

The soil-plant-feed transport of selenium and other essential micronutrients in diet of sport and recreational horses at two different locations

“…Youssef et al (2012) observed a significant decrease of serum Se, Cu, Zn and Fe levels in draft horses with lower airway disease in comparison with healthy ones, whereas the Cu : Zn ratio and Mn were increased. However, no effect of Se supplementation to horse diet on utilization of other micronutrients by the animal organism was observed (Gordon et al, 2013).…”