Evaluation of oxidative stress in caprine anaplasmosis and effect of vitamin E-selenium in monitoring oxidative stress

Effects of α-lipoic acid on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and immune function in sheep

α-Lipoic acid (α-LA) was usually applied to improve the ability of removing the reactive oxygen species of host. The affection of α-LA on ruminants was mainly focused on the variation of serum antioxidant and immune indexes, but the research on tissues or organs remained limited. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of dietary supplementation with different levels of α-LA on growth performance, antioxidant status, and immune indexes of serum and tissues in sheep. One hundred Duhu F1 hybrid (Dupo♀ × Hu sheep♂) sheep aged 2 to 3 mo with similar body weight (27.49 ± 2.10 kg) were randomly allocated into five groups. Five diets supplemented with 0 (CTL), 300 (LA300), 450 (LA450), 600 (LA600), and 750 (LA750) mg/kg α-LA were fed to sheep for 60 d. The results showed that α-LA supplementation significantly increased the average daily feed intake (P < 0.05); however, no significant variation was found in the average daily gain, feed conversion rate, carcass weight, and slaughter rate among groups (P > 0.05). Compared with CTL group, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities in serum of LA600 and LA750 groups were increased (P < 0.05). At LA450-LA750 groups, SOD, CAT activities in liver and ileum tissues and GSH-Px activities in ileum tissues were increased than CTL group (P < 0.05), while malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in serum and muscle tissue were decreased than CTL group (P < 0.05). The total antioxidant capacity contents in liver, muscle, and ileum tissues of LA600 group were increased compared with CTL group (P < 0.05). Additionally, the interleukin-10 (IL-10) contents of serum in LA450-LA750 groups were increased than CTL group (P < 0.05); the contents of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in serum, interleukin-2 (IL-2) in liver, and interleukin-6, IL-1β in muscle were decreased than CTL group (P < 0.05). The content of immunoglobulin A in serum of LA600 group, ileum, and muscle of LA750 group was increased than CTL group (P < 0.05). Based on the quadratic regression analysis of GSH-Px, MDA, IL-2, IL-10, and IL-1β, the optimal dietary α-LA levels were estimated to be 495.75, 571.43, 679.03, 749.75, and 678.25 mg/kg, respectively. This research will provide certain contribution for the effective utilization of α-LA in sheep production.

Redox Status of Pregnant Ewes after Vaccination against Clostridial Diseases

The redox status shortly after the vaccination of pregnant ewes is rather unexploited. Thus, the present study was designed to evaluate the fluctuation of redox status after the administration of the annual booster dose of a polyvalent clostridial vaccine in pregnant ewes, 3 to 4 weeks before lambing, with or without a simultaneous injection of Vit E/Se. In total, 24 pregnant Lacaune ewes 3–4 weeks before lambing were randomly allocated into four equal groups: the V (vaccinated with a polyvalent clostridial vaccine), VE (vaccinated and injected IM with Vit E/Se), E (injected IM with Vit E and Se), and C (neither vaccinated nor injected with Vit E/Se). The study period lasted for 21 days, starting on the day of administration. Four redox biomarkers, the antioxidant capacity (TAC), the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), the reduced glutathione (GSH), and the catalase (CAT) were evaluated in blood samples collected from all ewes before the injections (0 h) and then at 12 (12 h), 24 (D1), and 48 h (D2), and thereafter on days 4 (D4), 6 (D6), 10 (D10), 14 (D14), and 21 (D21). The results reveal that the TAC was the only biomarker evaluated that was significantly affected by group and significantly lower in vaccinated animals (V and VE groups) compared to non-vaccinated (E and C groups). The absence of an increase in the TBARS values after vaccination in groups V and VE indicates the absence of significant oxidative stress. Overall, it can be assumed that annual booster immunizations against clostridial diseases do not impose acute oxidative stress on pregnant ewes in the last month of pregnancy.

Correlations between Sodium Selenite and Vitamin E with Serum Macro-Minerals in Male Lambs

The effects of selenium and vitamin E (Vit. E) were evaluated on the macro-elements and their relationships were also surveyed. Lambs were divided into 4 groups of control, Vit. E, sodium selenite and sodium selenite/Vit. E (Se/E). Sodium selenite (0.1 mg.kg−1) and Vit. E (8 mg.kg−1) were administered. The mean blood selenium was high in sodium selenite. Selenium only in the Se groups was continuously increased. The lowest and highest blood selenium were in Vit. E and sodium selenite, respectively. The mean serum macro-minerals were within the normal range. The trend of calcium and magnesium in the selenium groups was to increase until day 60, but phosphorus was to decline. The lowest and highest calcium were observed in the control and sodium selenite groups, for magnesium in Vit. E and control groups, and for inorganic phosphorus were in the control group, respectively. The comparison of minerals showed that selenium had a significant increase from day 14 to 90 in sodium selenite. Selenium showed the most positive relationships with calcium and inorganic phosphorus in Vit. E and sodium selenite. Overall, selenium was correlated with macro-minerals on day 90 and overall sampling times were with calcium. In conclusion, administration of selenium with Vit. E increased selenium, which was more observed in the sodium selenite group. Sodium selenite alone or with Vit. E had no effect on the macro-minerals. The least correlation was observed between selenium and macro-minerals in the Se/E administration. The correlation between macro-minerals was positive. It was concluded that the effect of sodium selenite on treatment and prevention of selenium deficiency was more effective than other groups. Vit. E per selenium did not change the selenium concentration. Selenium administration was associated with an increase in calcium level and their co-administration is recommended.

Naturally occurring Anaplasma marginale infection in cattle: Molecular prevalence and associated risk factors, haemato-biochemical alterations, oxidant/antioxidant status and serum trace mineral levels

The present investigation was undertaken to map the distribution of Anapalsma species infection in cattle from the Aizawl region of Mizoram, India, in relation to various risk factors, and to study the haemato-biochemical alterations, oxidant/antioxidant status and serum trace mineral levels in cattle with naturally occurring Anapalsma marginale infection. The study was carried out over 31 months from June 2019 to December 2021. A total of 401 cattle blood samples were collected and screened for the presence of Anaplasma spp. by microscopic examination and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Non-infected clinically healthy cattle (n = 21) served as control. Blood samples were collected to study the haemogram and serum samples were used for the evaluation of biochemical parameters, oxidative stress indices and trace minerals. During the study period, an overall prevalence of 15.71% was recorded for A. marginale infection in cattle. The prevalence of A. marginale infection was highly associated with age, sex, breed and tick infestation status of animals, floor system and management of farms, and season. The mean values of total erythrocyte count (TEC), haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), total platelet count, total protein, albumin, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) were significantly (P < 0.05) lower, whereas the mean values of mean corpuscular volume (MCV), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine and lipid hydroperoxide (LPO) were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in cattle infected with A. marginale. A negative correlation of TEC with LPO, and a positive correlation with SOD, GSH, TAC, Cu and Zn suggest a possible link between oxidative stress and the haemolytic crisis noticed in bovine anaplasmosis. Incorporation of antioxidants and organ protective drugs as an adjunct therapy may result in better prognosis.

Effect of selenium and vitamin E supplementation on the metabolic status of dairy goats and respective goat kids in the peripartum period

This study aimed to examine the effects of selenium (Se) and vitamin E (vitE) supplementation on blood cell counts and blood metabolite concentrations in goats and their kids. Fifteen Saanen goats (average age 6 years of age; average initial body weight of 70 ± 10 kg) and 21 ½ Saanen × ½ Pardo Alpine crossbred goat kids (average body weight of 3.70 ± 0.64 kg) were used. Animals were distributed in a completely randomized design with five replicates per diet for mother goats and seven for goat kids and randomly assigned into three groups in the following diets: CON, control basal diet; Se, inclusion of 3.2 mg of Se/kg DM; SevitE, inclusion of 3.2 mg Se/kg DM and 1145 IU/day vitE/kg DM. Effects of time were observed on red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin in goats and goat kids. Effects of time were observed on differential counts of leucocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes in goat kids. Interaction was observed for high-density lipoprotein and total protein in goats and for triglycerides, beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) in goat kids. Effects of time were observed on low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, glucose, lactate, BHBA, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), creatinine, aspartate-aminotransferase, and GGT in goats and all blood metabolites in goat kids. Selenium, vitE, or association in the evaluated levels are not sufficient to change blood cell counts when supplied in diets for goats or goat kids. However, the effect of time or interaction between time and diets change the blood metabolite concentrations in the animals.

Effects of dietary supplementation with alpha-lipoic acid on apparent digestibility and serum metabolome alterations of sheep in summer

To investigate the effects of alpha-lipoic acid (LA) on the nutrition metabolism of sheep (36.72 ± 1.44 kg) in the summer, twenty-one sheep were randomly assigned to three treatments addressing LA supplementation: 0.00 (CTL), 600 (LA-L), and 900 (LA-H) mg/kg of dry matter (DM) per day for each sheep. Whole feces and urine collection methods were used to analyze apparent digestibility; ELISA kits to determine the hormones, antioxidant, and immune parameters in the blood; and serum metabolomics to detect and analyze small molecular substances. The results showed the DM intakes in the LA-L and LA-H groups were significantly increased by 8.22% and 8.02%, respectively, compared to that in the CTL group, and there was no significant effect on average daily gain, feed conversion ratio, nitrogen digestibility, calcium digestibility, and phosphorus digestibility. Regarding hormones, antioxidant, and immune indicators, the concentrations of triiodothyronine, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, HSP70, and IgA significantly increased after LA supplementation, while adrenaline and malondialdehyde levels significantly decreased. With the pairwise comparison of the three groups, metabolomics analysis identified 22 differential metabolites in the positive/negative modes, respectively, which suggested LA supplementation can significantly affect sheep's lipid, amino acid, and nucleic acid metabolism. Additionally, 3-indolepropionic acid, cinnamoylglycine, butyric acid, dodecanedioic acid, indoxyl sulfate, and pantothenic acid were the common differential metabolites with higher concentrations after LA supplementation. In summary, dietary supplementation of LA can increase the sheep's DMI, energy digestibility, antioxidant capacity, and immunity. These changes provide evidence to support the use of LA supplementation for livestock.