Accumulation of Toxic Elements in Bone and Bone Marrow of Deer Living in Various Ecosystems. A Case Study of Farmed and Wild-Living Deer

Investigation of doxycycline residues in bones after oral administration to broiler chickens

Introduction

Chicken bones, a by-product of the poultry industry, can directly or indirectly enter the food chain. Bone meal and bone products could be sources of many contaminants. Considering the wide range of uses made of bones in the culinary and food industries, this material needs to be safe and antibiotic residue-free. To determine if such is the case, the concentration of doxycycline in chicken bones was investigated, this antimicrobial being one of the most commonly used in poultry production.

Material and Methods

Ross 308 broilers were grouped into three experimental and one control group. Doxycycline was administered in drinking water at therapeutic and sub-therapeutic doses, as well as via spray treatment. The concentration of doxycycline in bones was determined post slaughter by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Results

Doxycycline was quantified at 135 μg/kg 22 days after the last day of antibiotic administration at therapeutic doses; 2,285 μg/kg after sub-therapeutic treatment for 27 days and 9.62 μg/kg 22 days after the end of spray application.

Conclusion

High concentrations and long persistence of doxycycline in bones were found in this study. Doxycycline can contaminate all bone-derived products in the food and fertiliser industries.

Concentration of Potentially Toxic Elements in Farmed Fallow Deer Antlers Depending on Diet and Age

Deer antlers, usually harvested annually on a farm, are an accessible material used to determine the exposition to potentially toxic elements, PTEs, during growth. Moreover, the study of antlers from animals of different ages allows the assessment of long-term exposition to these elements. The aim of the study was to analyze the concentration of eight potentially toxic elements (Cd, Pb, As, Ba, Ni, Sr, La, Ce) in individual positions of the antlers (first, second, and third position, corresponding to the stages of development and life of these animals) and in the food that the animals consumed during the growth of individual antler fragments, depending on the age of the farmed fallow deer (Dama dama). The mineral composition of samples was analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The analysis included 31 male deer aged 2-8 years old. The average concentration of Pb, Ba, and Ni was higher in the second position of the antler, and As, La, and Ce in the third position. In addition, the oldest individuals showed a higher Cd, Pb, and As concentration in the third position. A significant positive relationship was found between the age of animals and accumulation of As (r = 0.582, p < 0.05), as well as Ba and Sr (r = -0.534, r = -0.644 at p < 0.05, respectively). The average content of Ba and Sr also significantly negatively depended on body mass and antler mass stags (r = -0.436, r = -0.515 at p < 0.05, respectively). Cd concentration in feed was significantly higher in June compared to winter, spring, and later summer (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the concentration of Ba in food was significantly higher in spring and winter than in early and later summer (p < 0.05). An increase in the PTEs in the pasture determined the concentration of these components in fallow deer antlers.

The screening method for use of wild pheasant feathers in the monitoring of environmental pollution with heavy metals

It has been shown that some species of birds, especially herbivorous and territorial ones, are more sensitive to the effects of toxic substances compared to mammals. This allows for taking integrated actions in the area of environmental protection and monitoring in a holistic sense (at various trophic levels). Therefore, this study aimed to assess the possibility of using pheasant feathers (Phasianus colchicus) as a potential bioindicator ofenvironmental contamination, and thus to determine the concentration of heavy metals (lead-Pb, arsenic-As, cadmium-Cd, chromium-Cr, nickel-Ni, and zinc-Zn) in the analyzed tissue of animals inhabiting the forest districts of the Lubartów, Tomaszów, Skierniewice, and Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski areas. The chemical analysis used to determine the concentration of toxic elements in pheasant feathers was carried out by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The highest concentrations of Cr and Zn were found in birds from the Lubartów Forest District (1.93 mg/kg and 120.63 mg/kg, respectively), As and Ni in the Tomaszów Forest District (0.55 mg/kg and 1.60 mg/kg, respectively), Cd in the Lubartów Forest District and Skierniewice (0.04 mg/kg), and Pb in the Skierniewice Forest Distict (6.79 mg/kg). The observed results were strongly related to soil contamination and urbanization index, as key environmental factors which significantly determine the metal content in pheasant feathers. Therefore, proposed non-invasive measurements of the elemental composition of feathers of birds living in specific areas may be an important indicator of environmental pollution in relation to the high impact of anthropopressure.

Concentration of Macroelements and Trace Elements in Farmed Fallow Deer Antlers Depending on Age

The mineral content of the antlers reflects the nutritional status and specific stage of bone growth in cervid males. Therefore, this research aimed to analyze the concentration of Ca, P, Mg, K, Na, Li, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, Se and Mo in three characteristic antler positions selected based on the observation of fights between males. These were compared between farmed fallow deer (Dama dama) of different ages. The mineral compositions of tissues were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The highest mean concentrations of macroelements (except K) were recorded in the youngest animals aged 2 or 3 years in the proximal position of the antlers. With age and distance from the skull, Ca, P, Mg and Na contents decreased, while K increased. Higher mean concentrations of most trace elements (Cr, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn) were recorded in 3-year-old animals in antler distal positions. With an increase in the age, body mass and antler mass of fallow deer, the concentration of Ca, P, Mg, K, Mn, Cu and Zn decreased (−0.414 ≤ R ≤ −0.737, p < 0.05) in the studied tissue, whereas Li increased (0.470 ≤ R ≤ 0.681, p < 0.05). The obtained results confirm that the antlers’ chemical composition changes with age, also changing the Ca:P ratio.

The Mineral Composition of Bone Marrow, Plasma, Bones and the First Antlers of Farmed Fallow Deer

An adequate supply of essential nutrients is particularly important during the skeletal growth and development of young deer, especially in males, who build new antlers each year. The aim of the research was to analyze the levels of 21 mineral elements (including the bulk elements: Ca, P, Mg, K, Na; trace elements: Li, Cr, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, Se, Mo; and toxic elements: Be, Al, As, Cd, Sb, Ba, Pb, Ni) in the bone marrow, plasma, bones, and first antlers of farmed fallow deer (Dama dama). The mineral compositions of tissues were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Higher concentrations of Ca, P, Mg, Cr, Zn, Se, Al, Ba and Ni were found in bone marrow than in plasma. The highest concentrations of Ca, P and Ba were recorded in fallow deer bone, while the highest concentrations of Mg, K, Na, Li, Cr, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, Se, Mo, Be, Al, As, Sb, Pb and Ni were found in the antlers. Moreover, the research showed a significant negative relationship between Ca and Cd, and between Ca and Pb, and P and Pb (rS = −0.70, rS = −0.80, and rS = −0.66, respectively; p < 0.05) in the tissues.

Adsorption of Cd (II) Using Chemically Modified Rice Husk: Characterization, Equilibrium, and Kinetic Studies

Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic heavy metal considered carcinogenic to humans. The adsorption behavior of cadmium adsorption using untreated and chemically modified rice husk was investigated. Experimental tests were carried out to evaluate the influence of the variables pH, initial concentration of cadmium, and dosage of adsorbent in the adsorption process. In optimal experimental conditions, the maximum adsorption efficiency was 92.65%. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used allowing the identification of the main functional groups and morphology of rice husk and treated rice husk, and the results showed an improvement of adsorption characteristics after rice husk treatment with NaOH. The optimum adsorption pH for both types of rice husk was 7. The maximum adsorption capacities of RH and treated RH fitted by the Langmuir model were 5.13 mg/g and 11.06 mg/g, respectively. The pseudosecond order kinetics has the best coefficients of determination for untreated ( $R^2=0.992$ ) and treated ( $R^2=0.999$ ) rice husk. The adsorption process was found to be endothermic in nature with enthalpy of 14.08 kJ/mol and entropy of 170.98 J/mol.K. The calculated activation energy was 24 kJ/mol. The results showed the potential of rice husk as a low-cost, easily managed, and efficient biosorbent for Cd removal from waters.

Composition of Fatty Acids in Bone Marrow of Red Deer from Various Ecosystems and Different Categories

In this study, the influence of the living conditions of red deer (Cervus elaphus) fawns (wild vs. farmed) and effect of the category of free-living animals (fawns vs. does) on the fatty acid (FA) profile of the leg bone marrow was assessed. The composition of FAs in the deer bone marrow was determined by the gas chromatography method. In all groups, oleic acid (18:1 c9) was the most abundant in deer bone marrow and comprised of approximately 37% of total FAs. The bone marrow of young wild deer was characterized by a significantly (p < 0.001) higher fat content and saturated FAs proportion, while farmed fawns contained more moisture (p < 0.005) and fat-free dry matter (p < 0.001), as well as more monounsaturated FAs cis branched-chain FAs and monounsaturated FAs trans (p < 0.001). Although no significant (p > 0.05) differences were found between fawns, in terms of partial sums of PUFA, a significantly (p < 0.001) higher level of the sum of n-3 and n-6 FAs and more favorable n-6/n-3 ratio in the bone marrow of wild fawns were determined. In general, the legs of wild fawns were better prepared for wintering than farmed ones. In turn, comparing the category-related FAs composition in the bone marrow of free-living animals, a more favorable profile was observed in the adult (does) than in the young (fawns) animals, as the bone marrow of the wild does was characterized by significantly (p < 0.001) lower percentages of saturated FAs and a higher percentage of monounsaturated FAs cis.

Composition and Fatty Acid Profile of Bone Marrow in Farmed Fallow Deer (Dama dama) Depending on Diet

There are few studies on the composition of fatty acids and how they change the bone marrow fat of young animals depending on nutrition. Therefore, the proximate and fatty acid composition of metatarsal bone marrow from fawns of farm fallow deer after a summer of grazing and the winter feeding was compared. Due to the size and nature of the data, parametric or nonparametric tests were used. Fatty acid composition was determined by gas chromatographic analysis. After the winter feeding, bone marrow contained more fat (83.11% vs. 75.09%, p < 0.05) and less fat free dry matter (5.61% vs. 13.76%, p < 0.05) compared to the pasture period. Moreover, there was a significantly higher amount of saturated fatty acids (23.34% vs. 21.60%, p < 0.001), more trans fatty acids (2.99% vs. 2.34%, p < 0.005), and conjugated linoleic acid isomers (1.04% vs. 0.83%, p < 0.01), compared to post winter feeding, which in turn contained significantly more total cis-monounsaturated fatty acids (54.65% vs. 58.90%, p < 0.001). The percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids (including n-3 and n-6) was not affected by feeding season. In conclusion, it was shown that young male farm fallow deer were better nourished after the winter period, during which they were kept in properly prepared rooms and fed fodder prepared by people.

Comparison of the accumulation of macro- and microelements in the bone marrow and bone of wild and farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus)

Background

The cells of the entire body, including the skeletal system, especially of young animals, may derive from the bone marrow in which they multiply. Therefore, it is important to assess whether the diet and quality of life of deer have a significant impact on the elemental composition of bone and bone marrow, which can directly affect their health and growth. The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of macro- (Ca, calcium, P, phosphorus, Mg, magnesium, K, potassium, Na, sodium) and microelements (Li, lithium, Cr, chromium, Mn, manganese, Co, cobalt, Cu, copper, Zn, zinc, Se, selenium, Mo, molybdenum, and Sn, tin) accumulated in the bone marrow and bones of deer (Cervus elaphus). The study was carried out on 15 young stags divided into two groups: farmed and wild animals. The concentrations of macro- and microelements were analysed using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry technique. This research expands our knowledge on this topic, which so far has not been extensively studied.

Results

The mean content of K, Na, Zn and Se in the bone marrow of farmed animals was significantly higher than in wild deer, whereas the mean content of Ca, P, Mg, K, Na and Li in the bones was higher in wild animals than in farmed individuals (p < 0.05). In addition, the mean concentration of Cr, Mn, Cu, Se and Mo in the bones of the analysed animals differed significantly (p < 0.05) and was higher in the farmed deer. The mean concentration of Se in the bone marrow of wild deer decreased with the increase of the body weight (p < 0.05). In turn, the mean content of Mn in the bone marrow and of Mo in the bones of the animals was significantly positively correlated with the animals’ body weight (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The obtained results indicated different levels of micro- and macro-components in the body of farmed and wild deer, though without clear and strong variations. Generally, the higher level of macronutrients in the bones of wild deer may be related to the higher physiological importance of these minerals for life activities in the natural environment and to the limited supply of balanced food. On the other hand, the higher levels of microelements in the tissues of farmed animals may result from their significantly better nutritional status in the first year of life, achieved through appropriate nutrition as well as diet supplementation of adult females.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12917-021-03041-2.