Effects of lead on Epidermal wound Contraction and serum biochemistry in West African dwarf goats

Abstract

Lead contamination through wound could either be environmental and or systemic sources that impair wound healing in animals. The haematological, biochemical changes including thewound healing effects of topical lead poisoning were therefore investigated using ten adult West African dwarf (WAD) goats, randomly divided into two groups of five animals each. The first group served as the control and the second group was treated with lead chloride solution. Wound contraction was compared between the two groups, haematology and serum biochemistry were analysed at each stage of the healing process. The results revealed a delay in wound contraction in the lead treated group. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, albumin, neutrophil count in the lead treated group decreased significantly (P<0.05).Heart rate and temperature increased significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01) in the treated group. This study concluded that epidermal lead exposure impaired wound healing.