Vitamins a, e and selenium blood levels in the fat cow syndrome

Blood plasma analyses for vitamins A, E and selenium were performed from calving to five weeks of lactation in 29 cows. Twelve of the 29 cows had fat cow syndrome. The healthy cows had significantly higher (P<0.01) plasma vitamin A (40 μg/dL) and vitamin E (5 μg/mL) levels than the cows with fat cow syndrome (29 μg vitamin A/dL and 3 μg vitamin E/mL). At parturition, vitamin A level in plasma was low (25 μg/dL) but increased progressively thereafter (up to 51 μg/dL) in healthy cows, whereas cows with fat cow syndrome had lower levels of vitamin A, bordering on deficiency. The possible role of vitamin E in the alleviation of fat cow syndrome by affecting oxidation-reduction reactions in the liver is discussed. Significant (P<0.01) difference was not observed in selenium blood plasma level (35 ng/mL) between the two groups of cows or in another random group of 12 cows clinically affected by fat cow syndrome.     

Observations on an outbreak of nutritional steatitis (yellow fat disease) in fitch (Mustella putorius furo)

An outbreak of nutritional steatitis in farmed fitch (Mustella putorius furo) caused by feeding high levels of dietary polyunsaturated fat was investigated. The disease affected mainly 13 to 15 week rapidly growing kits; 793 kits were affected and 183 died. The outbreak was quickly controlled by lowering the level of polyunsaturated fat in the diet and administering high doses of vitamin E. Affected animals had severe generalised steatitis characterised grossly by yellow brown granular fat, which histologically consisted of diffusely necrotic adipose tissue heavily infiltrated with macrophages and neutrophils. There were extensive deposits of PAS-positive, fluorescent lipopigment within macrophages and extracellularly throughout the inflamed fat. Affected fitch had normochromic microcytic anaemia, lowered liver iron levels, increased thrombocytes and acute inflammatory leucograms. Skeletal or cardiac myopathy was not observed grossly or histologically in any of the animals examined. The diet contained high levels of polyunsaturated fat (7.7%DM), a high proportion being docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids which were derived from the squid component (40%) of the ration. The livers from affected fitch contained correspondingly high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The diet provided 13 mg Vitamin E per fitch daily, which was clearly inadequate considering the high levels of polyunsaturated fat being fed. Liver selenium levels were extremely high as a result of the high selenium levels in the squid portion of the diet.     

Effectiveness of α-tocopherol and selenium supplements in preventing lupinosis-associated myopathy in sheep

Objective To compare the effectiveness of combined selenium and α-tocopherol acetate treatments in preventing lupinosis-associated myopathy in sheep.
Design Measurement of plasma muscle and liver enzymes, and histopathological examination of muscle and liver in the treatment groups.
Procedure The treatments were: subcutaneous injections of selenomethionine and vitamin E (sc(SeM+E)) , an intraruminal selenium pellet and oral doses of vitamin E and intramuscular injections of selenomethionine combined with either oral doses of vitamin E (imSeM+orE) or intramuscular injections of vitamin E in an oily carrier. Another group received no supplements, while a control group was given selenium pellets on day 0 and fortnightly oral doses of vitamin E from day 0 to 72. To produce lupinosis-associated myopathy, the sheep were fed a diet low in vitamin E and given repeated injections of a crude extract of Diaphorthe toxica. Groups sc(SeM+E) and imSeM+orE were stressed by dosing with protected polyunsaturated fatty acids from day 56 onwards.
Results Lupinosis-associated myopathy was induced in all unsupplemented sheep. In these sheep the storage of Se increased and that of vitamin E decreased. The subcutaneous treatment was highly effective in preventing lupinosis-associated myopathy and also produced the highest vitamin E concentrations in plasma and liver. Supplemental vitamin E was more efficacious than supplemental Se. Concentrations of vitamin E in the livers of sheep given intramuscular vitamin E were higher than expected based on plasma concentrations. Oral doses of vitamin E proved the least effective method of increasing concentrations in liver. Lupinosis did not affect Se concentrations in liver or muscle.
Conclusion The sc(SeM+E) treatment is highly effective in preventing lupinosis-associated myopathy but needs to be further assessed when selenium and vitamin E are both limiting in the diet.     

饲粮添加维生素E和酵母硒对黄羽肉种鸡产蛋性能、孵化性能及蛋中维生素E和硒沉积量的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮添加维生素E和酵母硒对黄羽肉种鸡产蛋性能、孵化性能及蛋中维生素E和硒(Se)沉积量的影响。试验采用3×3双因子设计,设3个维生素E添加水平(0、20、40 IU/kg)和3个Se添加水平(0、0.15、0.30 mg/kg)。选用32周龄快大型岭南黄羽肉鸡父母代种母鸡864只,根据产蛋率和体重一致性原则随机分成9个组,分别为VE_0Se_0组、VE_0Se_(0.15)组、VE_0Se_(0.30)组、VE_(20)Se_0组、VE_(20)Se_(0.15)组、VE_(20)Se_(0.30)组、VE_(40)Se_0组、VE_(40)Se_0.15组和VE_(40)Se_0.30组,每组6个重复,每个重复16只鸡。试验期8周。结果表明:1)饲粮中维生素E和Se添加水平对黄羽肉种鸡的体增重、平均日产蛋量、料蛋比、平均蛋重、产蛋率、破蛋率和不合格蛋率均无显著影响(P0.05)。2)饲粮中维生素E和Se添加水平对黄羽肉种鸡的蛋长径、蛋短径、蛋白高度、蛋黄颜色、哈氏单位、蛋黄重、蛋壳重和蛋壳厚度均无显著影响(P0.05)。3)饲粮中维生素E和Se添加水平对黄羽肉种鸡的健雏出壳重、孵化率、弱雏率和受精率均无显著影响(P0.05)。4)饲粮中维生素E添加水平对黄羽肉种鸡血浆MDA含量有显著影响(P0.05),随饲粮中维生素E添加水平的升高血浆MDA含量呈降低趋势,其中维生素E添加水平为40 IU/kg时血浆MDA含量显著低于0 IU/kg时(P0.05);饲粮中维生素E和Se添加水平对血浆MDA含量有显著交互作用(P0.05),其中VE_(40)Se_0组的血浆MDA含量显著低于VE_0Se_(0.15)和VE_0Se_(0.30)组(P0.05)。5)随饲粮中维生素E和Se添加水平的升高,黄羽肉种鸡蛋中维生素E和Se含量显著增加(P0.05);饲粮中维生素E和Se添加水平对蛋中维生素E和Se含量有显著交互作用(P0.05)。结果提示,维生素E可以提高黄羽肉种鸡的抗氧化水平,饲粮中维生素E和Se添加水平可以显著影响蛋中维生素E和Se的含量;建议在无任何应激因素刺激和不使用Se缺乏地区饲料原料的情况下,黄羽肉种鸡玉米-豆粕型饲粮可以不用额外添加维生素E和Se。     

Vitamin E deficiency in dogs with retinal pigment epithelial dystrophy

The role of vitamin E deficiency in the development of retinal pigment epithelial dystrophy was investigated in 11 cocker spaniels and four other dogs. The concentration of alpha-tocopherol was measured by high performance liquid chromatography in plasma samples obtained from the affected dogs and from 28 ophthalmoscopically normal, healthy control dogs. The mean (sd) plasma alpha-tocopherol concentration in the normal dogs was 20.2 (7.1) microg/ml, compared with 1.14 (0.67) microg/ml in the 11 affected cocker spaniels. The difference between the two groups remained highly significant when the alpha-tocopherol concentrations were expressed relative to the concentrations of the plasma lipids cholesterol and triglycerides. Low plasma concentrations of alpha-tocopherol were observed in the four affected dogs of other breeds, but the finding was not so consistent. The plasma lipid concentrations were normal in the affected dogs. The deficiency of alpha-tocopherol in the affected dogs appeared to be primary, because there was no clinical, biochemical or pathological evidence of underlying disease, or any indication of a dietary deficiency which might have contributed to the low concentrations of alpha-tocopherol.     

饲粮维生素A添加水平对7～12月龄梅花鹿生长性能、血清生化指标及初角茸生长的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮维生素A添加水平对7~12月龄梅花鹿生长性能、血清生化指标及初角茸生长的影响。选取40只7月龄平均体重为(39.64±4.10)kg的健康雄性梅花鹿,随机分成4组,每组10个重复,每个重复1只,分别饲喂在基础饲粮(含5 mg/kgβ-胡萝卜素)中添加0(对照组)、2 500、5 000和10 000IU/kg维生素A的试验饲粮。试验期从7月龄开始至12月龄结束。结果表明:1)饲粮维生素A添加水平对梅花鹿生长性能无显著性影响(P0.05)。2)与对照组相比,饲粮添加2 500、5 000IU/kg维生素A显著提高梅花鹿血清免疫球蛋白A(IgA)含量、总超氧化物歧化酶(T-SOD)活性(P0.05),饲粮添加2 500、5 000、10 000IU/kg维生素A显著提高谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)活性(P0.05),饲粮维生素A添加水平对血清免疫球蛋白G(IgG)、免疫球蛋白M(IgM)、丙二醛(MDA)、睾酮(T)及雌二醇(E2)含量无显著性影响(P0.05)。3)5 000IU/kg维生素A添加组初角茸干茸重显著高于对照组(P0.05),但与其他2组差异不显著(P0.05)。由此得出,在本试验条件下,适量添加维生素A能够增强7~12月龄梅花鹿免疫和抗氧化功能,提高初角茸干茸重。7~12月龄梅花鹿饲喂以玉米和苜蓿草粉为主的饲粮时,饲粮维生素A适宜添加水平为2 500~5 000IU/kg。     

Plasma antioxidant capacity in dogs with naturally occurring heart diseases

The aim of the study was to compare the plasma levels of antioxidants by measuring total antioxidant activity (TAS) and ferric reducing ability of the plasma (FRAP) in healthy dogs and in those that are suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) or from mitral endocardiosis (ME). Dogs with echocardiographically diagnosed ME (10 dogs) as well as DCM (23 dogs) were sampled. Of dogs with DCM, eight having DCM with sinus rhythm (SR) were included in the DCM-SR group and 15 having DCM with atrial fibrillation (AF) in the DCM-AF group. Total antioxidant levels measured by TAS assay differed neither significantly between the cardiac patients and the control group nor between the heart disease groups. Ferric reducing ability of the plasma in animals with cardiac disease was significantly higher than in the control animals, and the difference was also significant in between the two DCM groups. However, the differences between the antioxidant levels of the DCM and ME groups did not reach significance in none of the antioxidant (TAS and FRAP) tests. Summarizing the results of this study it can be concluded that there is an increased antioxidant reactivity detected by the FRAP, but not by the TAS assay in the blood of dogs with naturally occurring cardiac disorders. The magnitude of this increase seems to be more affected rather by the severity of the cardiac insufficiency and/or by the heart rate or rhythm disorder than by the underlying heart disease itself.     

Brain, liver and plasma unsaturated aldehydes in nutritional encephalomalacia of chicks

Vitamin E deficiency and linoleic acid-feeding lead to nutritional encephalomalacia (NE) in chicks, affecting the cerebellum exclusively. The relevance of lipid peroxidation (LPO) products to the pathogenesis of the disease was studied. Laying hens received a diet low in vitamin E. Resulting chicks were assigned to four groups fed either with linoleic (C18: 2n-6) or linolenic (C18: 3n-3) acid together with 1 or 50 p.p.m. vitamin E. Nine days post-hatching NE occurred in the vitamin E-deficient group fed linoleic acid. With each chick showing NE, a healthy one from all four groups was killed. Unsaturated aldehydes were determined in plasma, liver, cerebrum and cerebellum. Results underlined that the type of dietary fat is decisive for the aldehyde pattern. In the liver of linoleic acid-fed animals total aldehydes were increased. Diseased animals had increased aldehydes stemming from n-3 fatty acids. In plasma, vitamin E deficiency led to higher malondialdehyde and OH-nonenal concentrations. In brain, neither vitamin E deficiency nor NE were accompanied by increased aldehyde concentrations. In consequence a direct role of unsaturated aldehydes for the development of NE in the cerebellum is not probable.     

Comparison of blood aminotransferase methods for assessment of myopathy and hepatopathy in Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris)

Muscle injury is common in Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris). Plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is frequently used to assess muscular damage in capture myopathy and traumatic injury. Therefore, accurate measurement of AST and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is important in managed, free-ranging animals, as well as in those rehabilitating from injury. Activities of these enzymes, however, are usually not increased in manatees with either acute or chronic muscle damage, despite marked increases in plasma creatine kinase activity. It is hypothesized that this absence of response is due to apoenzymes in the blood not detected by commonly used veterinary assays. Addition of coenzyme pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P5P or vitamin B6) should, therefore, result in higher measured enzyme activities. The objective of this study was to determine the most accurate, precise, and diagnostically useful method for aminotransferase measurement in manatees that can be used in veterinary practices and diagnostic laboratories. Additionally, appropriate collection and storage techniques were assessed. The use of an optimized commercial wet chemical assay with 100 micromol P5P resulted in a positive bias of measured enzyme activities in a healthy population of animals. However, AST and ALT were still much lower than that typically observed in domestic animals and should not be used alone in the assessment of capture myopathy and muscular trauma. Additionally, the dry chemistry analyzer, typically used in clinics, reported significantly higher and less precise AST and ALT activities with poor correlation to those measured with wet chemical methods found in diagnostic laboratories. Therefore, these results cannot be clinically compared. Overall, the optimized wet chemical method was the most precise and diagnostically useful measurement of aminotransferase in samples. Additionally, there was a statistically significant difference between paired serum and plasma measurement, indicating that separate reference intervals should be established for serum and plasma. Finally, storage of these enzymes at -70 degrees C for 1 mo resulted in up to a 25% decrease in enzymatic activity in manatee plasma.     

Feeding diets supplemented with zinc and vitamin A in laying hens: effects on histopathological findings and tissue mineral contents

The effects of different dietary levels of zinc and vitamin A on tissue mineral accumulation and histopathological alterations were examined in laying hens. For this purpose, 130 Hisex brown laying hens aged 56 weeks were divided into two main groups. Each group of hens were fed on diets supplemented with two different levels of vitamin A (0-10,000 IU kg(-1)). Then, laying hens in both of the main groups were subdivided into five treatment groups given different levels of zinc (0, 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg kg(-1)) for 12 weeks. Dietary additions of zinc and/or vitamin A did not significantly affect the zinc concentrations of the pancreas, liver, gizzard, thyroid, and copper concentrations of the pancreas, gizzard, and thyroid. The group fed the highest zinc (200 mg kg(-1)) in the diet had twofold iron concentration in their thyroid tissue compared to the concentration of the control group receiving no extra zinc. Histopathologically, there was slight oedema, degranulation, and vacuolation in exocrine cells and some fibrotic areas in the pancreas and reduced follicular size. Follicular cell hypertrophy and hyperplasia occurred in the thyroids, and gizzard erosions were seen in some cases.     

Stress factors influencing plasma cortisol levels and adrenal weights in Chinese water deer (Hydropotes inermis)

Stress responses were compared in Chinese water deer (Hydropotes inermis) exposed to different handling, management and disease factors by measuring plasma cortisol and adrenal gland weight. Healthy free-ranging deer shot as part of a management programme served as baseline controls; they had lower cortisol levels than either diseased deer or free-ranging deer that were either netted and manually restrained or anaesthetised by dart. Although darting appeared subjectively to be much less stressful to the deer than manual restraint, there was no significant difference in cortisol levels between the two groups. Hand-reared deer that were manually restrained in a similar manner to the free-ranging deer did not react behaviourally any less violently but showed significantly lower plasma cortisol levels. Adrenal glands of deer with various, mostly chronic, disease conditions weighed significantly more than those of healthy deer.     

Blood vitamin concentrations in privately owned dogs fed non-standardized commercial diets and after intake of diets with specified vitamin concentrations

The objective was to investigate in a survey study the blood vitamin concentrations in healthy dogs fed non-specified commercial complete diets and in an intervention study to determine the effects of defined dietary vitamin intakes on blood vitamin levels and hair and skin condition. Sixty-four privately owned dogs, aged from 1 to 8 years, without history of skin or coat problems were included. All animals were fed commercial complete diets with uncertain vitamin concentrations before enrolment. The animals were assigned, according to weight and gender, to four groups with graded vitamin intakes. The blood vitamin levels and skin and coat quality of the dogs were investigated at days 0 and day 122. Coat and hair condition was not influenced by the experimental diets. The retinol concentrations were reduced at the end of the experiment compared with the baseline levels, retinyl esters were not influenced. 25-Hydroxycholecalciferol decreased in all groups, alpha-tocopherol was constant or tended to decrease. Ascorbic acid, thiamine pyrophosphate and riboflavin concentrations were not affected by treatment, flavin adenine dinucleotide and pyridoxal-5'-phosphate were partially reduced on day 122. Cobalamin, pantothenate and biotin concentrations increased with higher dietary intakes, folate levels in tendency. In conclusion, this study gives a survey of blood vitamin concentrations in healthy dogs and provides a data base for the evaluation of the vitamin status in health and disease.     

Immunomodulation by dietary vitamin C in healthy and aflatoxin B1-induced immunocompromised rohu (Labeo rohita)

The aim of this study was to examine the immunomodulatory effect of high levels of dietary vitamin C in healthy and immunocompromised rohu (Labeo rohita) treated with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Four groups of rohu were fed experimental diets containing either no vitamin C or supplemented with vitamin C at 500 ppm for 60 days. On the first day of feeding, one group fed the high vitamin C diet and one fed the vitamin C deficient diet, were injected intraperitoneally with a single doses of AFB1 at 1.25 mg kg(-1) body weight. The effect of AFB1 and high dietary vitamin C on specific and non-specific immunity, and disease resistance against Aeromonas hydrophila were examined in the rohu. The ability of vitamin C to counteract immunosuppression induced by AFB1 was also examined. Specific immunity indicated by haemagglutination and haemolysin titres against sheep red blood cells (SRBC), and bacterial agglutination appeared to be unaffected by either the AFB1 treatment or the vitamin C enriched diet. A significant reduction was observed in the non-specific immunity of AFB1-treated fish, however, indicated by lowered bactericidal and lysozyme activities. High dietary vitamin C, on the other hand, enhanced the non-specific immunity of fish, including an enhanced phagocytic ratio and increased serum lysozyme activity. Feeding a high level of dietary vitamin C to AFB1-treated fish increased these parameters to levels similar to those found in control fish. High dietary vitamin C significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced protection against Aeromonas hydrophila infection in both healthy and immunocompromised fish. Results from this study help to establish the beneficial effect of dietary vitamin C on AFB1-induced immunosuppression, as well as confirming the immunostimulatory effect of vitamin C in rohu.     

Effect of bulk feeds (alfalfa hay, corn silage) on the metabolism and liver parameters of growing geese.

Rearing experiments were conducted with a total of 90 liver hybrid geese from Babat, divided into three groups of 30 birds each. The effect exerted by all-concentrate feeding (group 1), concentrate feeding supplemented with alfalfa hay (group 2) or with corn silage (group 3) ad libitum on the blood glucose level, blood plasma total lipid, total cholesterol and free fatty acid level, and on total lipid content of the liver was studied. In addition, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity of the blood plasma and carotene, vitamin A and vitamin E concentration of the blood plasma and the liver were determined. It was found that the blood and liver parameters of goose groups fed different diets changed within the physiological limits typical of the species. Excessive fibre intake resulted in reduced lipid transport within the organism at an unchanged plasma cholesterol level; at the same time, blood glucose level remained unchanged. Ad libitum feeding of alfalfa hay and corn silage enhanced carotene and vitamin A transport and carotene storage but did not affect the transport of vitamin E. The results confirm earlier data of the literature that beta-carotene and vitamin A together impair vitamin E metabolism.     

The vitamin A and vitamin E status of horses raised in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

The purpose of the study was to determine normal baseline levels of vitamin A and vitamin E in clinically normal horses under typical field conditions in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Heparinized blood samples were collected from approximately 400 clinically healthy horses selected from 24 locations in Alberta and Saskatchewan during a two-year period. For each horse, historical information including feed type, vitamin supplementation, time of year, sex, and age were recorded. From each blood sample, the plasma vitamin A (all-transretinol) and vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) levels were measured using high pressure liquid chromatography. Normal baseline plasma vitamin A and vitamin E concentrations recorded during the study were 0.70 mumol/L and 7.65 mumol/L, respectively. The plasma vitamin concentrations were lower in the younger horses. The plasma vitamin levels were higher from May to August, as compared to other times of the year. Horses grazing fresh pasture exclusively during the summer months had plasma vitamin A and vitamin E concentrations that were 27% and 63% greater than horses fed harvested or stored feeds during the same time period. Sex-related differences were not evident in the study. A number of factors may influence the baseline plasma vitamin A and vitamin E levels in horses. Consequently, it is unadvisable to use a single evaluation to assess vitamin status. Multiple sampling from individual horses or sampling from many horses within a herd may reduce the variability and improve the ability to monitor vitamin status from plasma submissions.     

细鳞鲑幼鱼对饲料中维生素E的需求量

本试验旨在研究饲料中不同水平的维生素E对细鳞鲑幼鱼生长性能、血清生化指标和机体维生素E积累量的影响,并确定细鳞鲑幼鱼对饲料中维生素E的需求量。选取初均质量为(40.2±3.6)g的细鳞鲑幼鱼270尾,随机分成6个组,每组3个重复,每个重复15尾。各组分别投喂不同维生素E水平(实测值分别为16.6、64.9、165.5、316.2、615.5和1 214.7 mg/kg)的6种等氮等能的试验饲料。试验期120 d。结果表明:1)细鳞鲑的末均质量(FW)、增重率(WGR)和特定生长率(SGR)均随着饲料维生素E水平的升高呈先升高后降低的趋势,165.5 mg/kg组细鳞鲑的FW显著高于其他各组(P0.05),165.5 mg/kg组细鳞鲑的WGR和SGR显著高于16.6和1 214.7 mg/kg组(P0.05)。各组间细鳞鲑的摄食率、饲料系数和蛋白质效率没有显著差异(P0.05)。2)随着饲料维生素E水平的升高,血清甘油三酯(TG)和总胆固醇(TC)含量均呈逐渐降低的趋势,且615.5和1 214.5 mg/kg组显著低于其他各组(P0.05)。随着饲料维生素E水平的升高,血清高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)含量呈先升高后降低的趋势,且165.5 mg/kg组显著高于其他各组(P0.05),64.9和316.2 mg/kg组显著高于16.6、615.5和1 214.5 mg/kg组(P0.05);而血清低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)含量与HDL-C含量呈相反的趋势,且165.5和316.2 mg/kg组显著低于其他各组(P0.05)。各组间血清谷丙转氨酶(ALT)和谷草转氨酶(AST)活性没有显著差异(P0.05)。3)随着饲料维生素E水平的升高,细鳞鲑肝脏维生素E积累量除615.5与1 214.5 mg/kg组间无显著差异(P0.05)外,呈显著升高的趋势(P0.05);肌肉维生素E积累量也呈升高的趋势,在饲料维生素E水平大于165.5 mg/kg时恒定在一个水平,且165.5、316.2、615.5和1 214.5 mg/kg组肌肉维生素E沉积量显著高于16.6和64.9 mg/kg组(P0.05)。由此可见,饲料中添加适宜水平的维生素E可以改善细鳞鲑的生长性能和血清生化指标,增加肝脏和肌肉维生素E积累量。以增重率和肌肉维生素E积累量为评价指标,根据折线模型得出,细鳞鲑对饲料中维生素E的需求量分别为145.87和180.98 mg/kg。     

Plasma indicators of muscle damage in a model of nutritional myopathy in weaner sheep

SUMMARY Subclinical nutritional myopathy was induced in 5-month-old sheep by feeding them a diet low in vitamin E and selenium. Subsequently clinical myopathy was induced by dosing with protected polyunsaturated fatty acids. Plasma activities of creatine kinase (CK), pyruvate kinase, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase and aldolase, enzymes of muscle origin, all remained above their reference ranges in clinically affected sheep, but fluctuated widely. Similar fluctuations occurred in subclinically affected animals, resulting in some activities being within the reference ranges and some above, at different times. Plasma malondialdehyde, an indicator of lipid peroxidation, proved of no diagnostic value. Terminal plasma CK activities were significantly correlated with microscopic damage in the vastus lateralis (VL), but not the vastus intermedius (VI) or the tensor fascia lata (TFL) muscles. AST was the most highly correlated with damage in VI and VL. In two clinically affected sheep successfully treated with an oral dose of α-tocopherol actetate all enzymes decreased steadily to within their reference ranges, at rates probably related to their plasma half-lives. These results suggest that measurement of plasma CK activity would be useful in monitoring recovery of treated sheep.     

Comparison of biochemical parameters in the blood of healthy and diseased calves in a large barn

In a high-capacity calf-house, twenty-one calves were subjected to repeated clinical and biochemical examination until they were 22 weeks old. For evaluating the health condition of the animals, the calves were divided into two groups, one including healthy animals and the other including those suffering from bronchopneumonia and diarrhoea as the most frequent disorders in high-capacity calf-houses. From four to eight weeks of age, both groups of calves showed low levels of plasma magnesium and iron. The levels of plasma zinc and copper showed a continuous decrease with age. Compared with the healthy calves, the animals affected by a disease had statistically significantly lower levels of plasma vitamins (A, E, C). Further, the diseased animals also showed statistically significantly decreased levels of plasma glucose, serum albumins, and a lower activity of alkaline phosphatase in plasma. In addition to this, the diseased animals also had significantly higher levels of plasma gamma-globulins and urea. These clinico-biochemical parameters can be used for determining the subclinical forms of disease, for objective diagnosis and for the introduction of preventive measures in high-capacity calf-house.     

An evaluation of natural (RRR-alpha-tocopheryl acetate) and synthetic (all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate) vitamin E fortification in the diet or drinking water of weanling pigs

Three experiments conducted with weanling pigs evaluated the effects of vitamin E added to the drinking water or diet on plasma and tissue alpha-tocopherol concentrations. When natural or synthetic vitamin E was used, it was added at an IU-equivalent basis, but natural vitamin E was 73.5% (mg basis) of the synthetic vitamin E. Experiment 1 used 18-d-old weanling pigs (n = 120) in a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments in a randomized complete block design with 4 replicates. The first factor evaluated the dietary levels of natural vitamin E (RRR-alpha-tocopheryl acetate) added at 0, 50, or 300 IU/kg, whereas the second factor was the natural vitamin E added to the drinking water at 0 or 100 IU/L. Pigs were bled at periodic intervals, and 1 pig per pen was killed at the end of the 21-d trial and tissues (liver, heart, lung, and loin) were collected for alpha-tocopherol analysis. When vitamin E was not added to the diet or water, plasma alpha-tocopherol declined over the 21-d period. Although there were some interactions (P < 0.01), tissue and plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations increased linearly when vitamin E was added to the diet or water. Experiment 2 was a 3 x 2 factorial in a randomized complete block design with 4 replicates. A total of 96 pigs weaned at 18 d of age, with an initial BW of 6.2 kg, were fed a nonvitamin E fortified diet, but natural or synthetic (all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate) vitamin E was added to their drinking water at 50, 100, or 150 IU/L. Pigs were bled at 0, 3, 7, 10, 14, and 21 d postweaning, with tissues (liver, lung, heart, and loin) collected for alpha-tocopherol analysis at d 21. The results indicated that plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations increased (P < 0.01) as vitamin E increased, with greater tissue alpha-tocopherol concentrations (P < 0.01) when natural vitamin E was provided. Experiment 3 was conducted in 2 replicates, but pigs (n = 60) were not provided vitamin E in the diet or water for 7 d postweaning, and then natural or synthetic vitamin E was added to the drinking water as in Exp. 2 (50, 100, or 150 IU/L). Pigs were bled at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 24 h after being provided vitamin E to evaluate the absorption from each vitamin E source and level. Plasma alpha-tocopherol increased quadratically (P < 0.01) and plateaued at 8 to 10 h for each treatment group. These results indicate that adding vitamin E to the pig's water supply at weaning was more effective in increasing plasma alpha-tocopherol than when it was added to the diet during the initial 14 d postweaning, and that natural vitamin E was a superior source compared with synthetic vitamin E.     

Relationship between plasma vitamin C and serum diagnostic biochemical markers in lactating cows

We investigated the relationship between plasma vitamin C concentration and serum levels of some diagnostic biochemical markers in 118 lactating Holstein cows. Blood sample was collected once from each cow and we measured the plasma vitamin C concentration and the serum levels of glucose, beta-hydroxybutyrate, free fatty acids, triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, albumin, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyltransferase. The regression of plasma vitamin C with each serum diagnostic biochemical marker indicated that the vitamin C concentration significantly decreased as glucose, alkaline phosphatase or aspartate aminotransferase level increased and as total cholesterol or albumin concentration decreased. Furthermore, the plasma vitamin C concentration was significantly lower in the cows showing that each of these marker levels was out of its reference interval than in the cows showing that the marker level was within its reference interval. The significant correlations were observed among total cholesterol, albumin, alkaline phosphatase and aspartate aminotransferase levels, to which the glucose concentration was not related. These results showed that the plasma vitamin C concentration was low in the cows that had concurrently low levels of total cholesterol and albumin, and high levels of alkaline phosphatase and aspartate aminotransferase. Therefore, a hepatic malfunction possibly decreases plasma vitamin C concentration through suppressing vitamin C production. On the other hand, the high level of glucose possibly decreases plasma vitamin C concentration through suppressing vitamin C recycling.