Therapeutic management of copper deficiency in buffalo heifers: Impact on immune function

Abstract

To evaluate the magnitude of copper deficiency in Northern India and to examine the various haematobiochemicals, enzymes, vitamins and immune functions affected by copper deficiency, and to identify the parameters which can be of diagnostic importance in copper deficiency, a survey was conducted in 12 districts of Northern India. Significant deficiency of copper was observed in soil, fodder and serum samples of buffalo heifers. Fifty hypocuperaemic buffalo heifers were selected from these areas and were randomly divided into two groups, A and B. The heifers in group A were provided with mineral mixture containing copper sulphate and in group B without copper sulphate. Significant (p<0.01) improvement in serum ceruloplasmin level was observed within 30 days of treatment, while significant (p<0.01) improvement in monoamine oxidase and liver cytochrome oxidase was observed at the 60th day of treatment in group A animals. Significant improvement was observed in T(3) and T(4), in the animals of group A within 60 days of treatment. The values of vitamin A and E showed significant (p<0.01) improvement within 30 days of treatment. The phagocytic activity of neutrophils against Candida albicans significantly (p<0.01) improved in group A within 60 days of treatment. Similarly, significant improvement in superoxide dismutase activity in red blood cells was observed at the 30th day, and in total leukocytes and whole blood at the 60th day in group A animals. Significant improvement in liver copper level was observed at the 30th day of treatment, while in group B the liver copper was significantly (p<0.01) depleted at the 60th day of experimentation. Additional copper supplementation improved growth performance significantly in group A.

Mineral supplementation stimulates the immune system and antioxidant responses of dairy cows and reduces somatic cell counts in milk

“…During the transition period, several disorders can occur at different intensities, such as oxidative stress (Lykkesfeldt and Svendsen 2007), and therefore, in this study, mineral supplementation had a beneficial effect (increased antioxidant and reduced ROS), which minimized this oxidative stress in lactating cows. The subcutaneous mineral supplementation was able to stimulate the SOD enzyme increasing the activity since copper administered in cows act as a cofactor of this enzyme (Sharma et al 2008). In similar studies using diet supplementation also reported an increase in SOD activity, when copper was one of the minerals supplemented (Spears and Weiss 2008, Sordillo and Aitken 2009, Machado et al 2014.…”

The effect of feed supplementation with a copper‐glycine chelate and copper sulphate on selected humoral and cell‐mediated immune parameters, plasma superoxide dismutase activity, ceruloplasmin and cytokine concentration in broiler chickens

“…The results obtained are opposite with observations by Gengelbach, Ward, and Spears () and Spears, ; who showed that supplementation of cattle feed with copper sulphates did not affect the concentration of pro‐inflammatory cytokines TNF‐α and IL‐1. It may indicate also non‐physiological serum concentration of this cytokine prior to feed supplementation (Scuderi, ; Sharma, Joshi, & Das, ).…”

Evaluation of the Change of Serum Copper and Zinc Concentrations of Dairy Cows with Subclinical Ketosis

“…The serum concentrations of Zn and Cu were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Shimadzo AA-670; Shimadzo, Japan) followed by a digestion with nitric acid [9].…”

“…Cu plays an important biological role as a cofactor for several Cu-dependent enzymes [9]. Likewise, Zn is essential for the activity of a large number of enzymes, including those involved in the synthesis of DNA and RNA, cellular replication, and proliferation in the animal body [10].…”