8th Sci. Vet. Med. Zag. , Conference (31 Aug. –3 Sept. 2006) Hurghada

CLINICO-BIOCHEMICAL STUDY ON SOME CASES OF PREGNANCY TOXAEMIA AMONG EWES

Abd El-Raof, Y.M. and Ghanem, M.M.

Department of Animal Medicine, Fac. Vet. Med., BenhaUniversity

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out on twenty two balady pregnant ewes (3-5 years old) at the last 2-4 weeks of gestation. Twelve animals of them showed signs of pregnancy toxaemia (incoordination, tremors of head and neck and sternal recumbency). Also, there was ketonuria. The other ten ewes were clinically healthy and considered as control group. Blood samples were collected without anticoagulant for preparation of serum. Biochemical analysis of serum from these animals indicated a significant decrease of glucose, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, and total proteins. While there was significant increase of total lipids, cholesterol, free fatty acids, ALP, ALT, AST, urea and creatinine.

INTRODUCTION

Metabolic diseases are of major importance in some countries because of high prevalence and high mortality rate, so much so that predictive systems are of being set up (Radostitset al., 2000). Pregnancy toxaemia is a metabolic disorder of ewes during the last few weeks of pregnancy. Its occurrence is related to negative energy balance resulting from increased energy demands of rapid growth in late gestation and insufficient intake (Smith,2002). It is characterized by hypoglycemia and ketosis. It is usually participated by some factors that reduce dietary intake such as hypocalcemia, change in the diet or movement, so that intake does not meet the demands (Martin and Aitken, 2000). Signs of pregnancy toxaemia in ewes include separation from the flock, decreased appetite, disinclination to move and apparent blindness. Blundering into objects when forced to move and pressing the head into obstacles may occur during the course of the disease. In the later stages, another signs are recorded, including marked drowsiness, tremors and spasms of the head, face and neck muscles with the head pulled back or sideways, abnormal postures, elevation of chin (star-gazing), falling, convulsions and coma until death, 2-6 days after onset of signs (Singh et al., 1992; Joseph and Rook, 1999and Jordan, 2002). Biochemical examination of urine from toxaemic ewes indicated presence of ketone bodies (Martin, 1988).Moreover, biochemical analysis of sera from toxaemic ewes indicated marked drop of glucose (El-Sebaie et al., 1992) and Nasser et al. (1998). In pregnancy toxaemia some authors recorded hyperlipaemia, Magat et al., 1974), while, other authors reported a decrease of serum lipid values (Payne, 1977). Also, there was a significant increase in cholesterol and free volatile fatty acids (Singh et al., 1992) and Singh et al., 1996). Regarding, serum calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium and potassium levels in toxaemic ewes, a significant decrease was recorded in different studies (Egan et al.,1973; Magat et al. 1974; Terashima et al., 1982; Hallford and Sanson, 1983; Judith and Thomas, 1988 and Nasser et al., 1998). Also, there was a significant decrease in serum total proteins (Sotillo et al., 1994) and Ceron et al., 1994). Pointing to liver function parameters in toxaemic ewes, there was a significant increase in serum alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, (Hallford and Sanson, 1983; Vihan and Rai, 1984; El-Sebaie et al., 1992and Nagamani et al., 1996). With regards to kidney function parameters in toxaemic ewes, there was a significant increase in serum urea and creatinine (Judith and Thomas, 1988; Singh et al., 1992and Sotillo et al., 1994).

The aim of this study was directed to investigate the clinical picture of pregnancy toxaemia in ewes and to record alterations in some serum biochemical parameters and their interpretations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was conducted on twenty two balady pregnant ewes (3-5 years-old) at 2-4 weeks of gestation. These animals were collected from different localities at Kalubia Governorate. Twelve animals of them showed clinical signs of drowsiness, tremors of head and neck, incoordination and falling. The other ten ewes were clinically healthy. Urine samples were collected by catheterization and Modified Rosther‘s Nitroprusside test was performed according to Kelly (1984). Ten ml of blood were withdrawn by puncturing the jugular vein, into test tube without anticoagulant, left to clot and the serum was obtained (Kelly, 1984). Commercially available diagnostic kits were used for colorimetric determination of serum glucose (Trinder, 1969), calcium (Glinder and King, 1972), inorganic phosphorus (Klichling and Freiburg, 1951), magnesium (Glinder, 1971), total proteins (Josephson and Gyllensward, 1975), total lipids (Knight et al., 1972), cholesterol (Allain et al., 1974), free fatty acids (Schuster and Pilz, 1979), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (Roy, 1970), Alanine aminotransferase (AST) (Reitman and Frankel, 1957), urea nitrogen (Patton and Crouch, 1977) and creatinine (Husdan and Rapaport, 1968).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In the present investigation pregnancy toxaemic ewes exhibited one or more of the following clinical signs, anorexia, depression, disinclination to move, drowsiness, excessive salivation, grinding on teeth, listening attitude, sternal recumbency and blindness. These clinical signs were in accordance with those recorded by El-Sherief et al. (1978), El-Sebaie et al. (1992), Nasser et al. (1998) and Smith (2002). Most of these symptoms related to hypoglycemia and ketonaemia (Singh et al., 1992 and Radostitset al., 2000). Ketonuria was recorded with these cases, and agreeable with Nasser et al. (1998). Biochemical analysis of serum from these animals (Table, 1) indicated marked drop of glucose. Similar result was recorded by El-Sebaie et al. (1992) and Nasser et al. (1998). This hypoglycemia might be partly as a result of high requirements of glucose for the developing fetus and partly due to lower liver glycogen reserves (Nagamani et al., 1996). Also, values of serum calcium, inorganic phosphorus, magnesium, sodium and potassium (Table, 1) were significantly decreased in toxaemic ewes. These results were agreeable with those of Egan et al. (1973), Magat et al. (1974), Terashima et al. (1982), Hallford and Sanson (1983), Judith and Thomas (1988) and Nasser et al. (1998). Regarding, serum total lipids in toxaemic ewes (Table, 1), they were significantly increased. Similar resultwas reported by Megat et al. (1974). This increase of serum total lipids was attributed to high rates of mobilization of fatty acids causing severe hepatic lipidosis due to low level of gluconeogenic enzymes (Murondoti et al., 2004). Also, in toxaemic ewes serum free volatile fatty acids (Table, 2) was significantly increased. These results were in accordance with those of Singh et al. (1992) and Singh et al. (1996). The significant increase in the concentrations of free fatty acids in the serum of ketotic ewes could be attributed to increased mobilization of fatty acids from adipose tissue in response to an increased requirement for endogenous substrate for energy production during pregnancy, Nable et al. (1971). The values of serum cholesterol in toxaemic ewes (Table, 2) were significantly increased. Similar result was obtained by Singh et al. (1992) and Singh et al. (1996). Regarding serum total proteins in ketotic ewes (Table, 2), there was significant decrease that was agreed those of Sotillo et al. (1994) and Ceron et al. (1994). Some liver function parameters in ketotic ewes including serum ALP, ALT and AST (Table, 2) were significantly increased. These results were similar to those recorded by Hallford and Sanson (1983), Vihan and Rai (1984), El-Sebaie et al. (1992) and Nagamani et al. (1996). Elevation of these enzymes might be a result of fatty infiltration of the liver and hepatic damage (Nagamani et al., 1996). Some kidney function parameters in toxaemic ewes including serum urea and creatinine were significantly increased (Table, 2). These results were similar to those recorded by Judith and Thomas (1988), Singh et al. (1992) and Sotillo et al. (1994). This increase might be related to renal dysfunction and protein catabolism, Andrews et al. (1996). This occur due to death and decomposition of fetuses ( Radostits et al., 2000).

Table (1): Serum glucose, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, total lipids and free fatty acids in control and toxaemic ewes.

Parameter

/

Control group

/ Toxaemic ewes
Glucose (mg/dl) / 46.53 ± 3.79 / 28.68** ± 3.10
Calcium (mg/dl) / 9.23 ± 0.380 / 7.51* ± 0.27
Inorganic phosphorus (mg/dl) / 6.31 ± 0.42 / 5.11* ± 0.36
Magnesium (mg/dl) / 3.10 ± 0.15 / 1.96* ± 0.09
Sodium (mEq/l) / 147.13 ± 2.36 / 125.3* ± 1.92
Potassium (mEq/l) / 5.78 ± 0.24 / 3.40* ± 0.14
Total lipids (mg/dl) / 263.0 ± 4.10 / 427* ± 11
Free fatty acids (mg/dl) / 28.56 ± 1.65 / 44.30** ± 3.03

* Significant at P ≤ 0.05 ** Significant at P ≤ 0.01

Table (2): Some liver function and kidney function parameters in the serum of control and toxaemic ewes.

Parameter

/

Control group

/ Toxaemic ewes
Total proteins (gm/dl) / 6.40 ± 0.13 / 5.54* ± 0.22
Cholesterol (mg/dl) / 65.4 ± 3.11 / 83.2* ± 4.05
Alkaline phosphatase (U/L) / 122.15 ± 6.12 / 231.60*** ± 9.30
Alanine aminotransferase (U/L) / 28.66 ± 1.90 / 48.33** ± 1.43
Aspartate aminotransferase (U/L) / 53.00 ± 3.3 / 84.33** ± 3.07
Urea (mg/dl) / 29.00 ± 1.24 / 45.50** ± 1.74
Creatinine (mg/dl) / 1.25 ± 0.05 / 2.26** ± 0.12

* Significant at P ≤ 0.05 ** Significant at P ≤ 0.01

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الملخصالعربى

دراسةإكلينيكية وبيوكيميائية على بعض حالات تسمم الحمل فى النعاج

يسين محمود عبد الرءوف و محمد محمدى غانم
قسم طب الحيوان – كلية الطب البيطرى بمشتهر – جامعة بنها

أجريت هذه الدراسة على عدد اثنين وعشرين من نعاج الأغنام العشار فى المرحلة الأخيرة من الحمل. اثنتى عشر منهم كانت تعانى من ترنح أثناء المشى وارتعاشات فى عضلات الرأس والرقبة وأحياناً رقود وكانت عينات البول إيجابية للأجسام الكيتونية ، وكانت العشرة حيوانات الأخرى سليمة إكلينيكياً واتخذت كمجموعة ضابطة ، تم تجميع عينات دم بدون إضافة مانع للتجلط وذلك للحصول على مصل الدم. وقد أوضحت الفحوص البيوكيميائية لمصل الدم وجود نقص معنوى واضح فى مستوى الجلوكوز وكذلك هبوط معنوى فى مستوى الكالسيوم والفوسفور والماغنسيوم والصوديوم والبوتاسيوم والبروتين الكلى بينما كان هناك ارتفاع معنوى فىمستوىالدهون الكليةو الكوليسترول والأحماض الدهنية الحرة واليوريا والكرياتينين. وكذلك أيضاً ارتفاع معنوى فى مستوى إنزيم الفوسفاتيز القلوى وأيضاً إنزيم الألانين أمينو ترانس فيريز وإنزيم الأسبرتات أمينو ترانس فيريز.

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