Biochemical analysis of some serum trace elements in donkeys and horses in Eastern region of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Abstract: Little is known about the serum levels of trace elements in donkeys and horses in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to investigate the levels of some trace elements in these two species in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia and to compare the obtained results with the reference values. Methods: Seventeen Arabian horses and twenty eight Hassawi donkeys were randomly selected for this study. All of the studied healthy animals were kept under a uniform feeding protocol without any minerals supplementations. Atomic absorption spectrometer is used to estimate the serum concentrations of selenium (Se), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) in the analyzed samples. Results: Significant differences between horses and donkeys were observed in three of the studied elements (Se, Mn, and Cr). Statistically significant differences were found in serum Se and Cr between male and female horses. The male donkey showed higher Mn, Cu, and Zn levels than female animals. Conclusions: The obtained results of trace element levels in serum of Hassawi donkeys and Arabian horses in Saudi Arabia are considered as the first values to be published for these breeds. When compared to other animals, the measured amounts of Se, Mn, Cr, Cu, Fe, and Zn in the serum of horses and donkey are often differed, possibly because of the varying living or feeding conditions. Moreover, there were some differences in some of the trace elements concentrations related to animal's gender and species (horses and donkeys), which will be considered in the interpretation of the laboratory data.
Publication Date: 2017-10-25 PubMed ID: 29184375PubMed Central: PMC5682274DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2017.1269-1274Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research paper investigates the levels of certain trace elements in the blood of Arabian horses and Hassawi donkeys in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia, expanding our limited knowledge on this topic. The study also examined how these levels differ by species and gender, providing the first published data for these breeds.
Methods
- The study was conducted on seventeen Arabian horses and twenty-eight Hassawi donkeys chosen randomly in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia.
- These animals were healthy, and they all fed on the same diet, without any additional mineral supplements.
- The researchers used an atomic absorption spectrometer, a device used to determine the concentration of certain metal ions, to measure the serum concentrations of six trace elements – Selenium (Se), Manganese (Mn), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), and Zinc (Zn).
Results
- The researchers found significant differences between Arabian horses and Hassawi donkeys in the levels of three trace elements Selenium (Se), Manganese (Mn), and Chromium (Cr).
- There were also significant gender-based differences observed in some elements; male horses had different levels of selenium and chromium compared to female horses, and male donkeys showed higher levels of manganese, copper, and zinc compared to female donkeys.
Conclusions
- The study provided first-of-its-kind findings regarding nutrient levels in the serum of Hassawi donkeys and Arabian horses in Saudi Arabia.
- The divergence in trace element concentrations between horses and donkeys, as well as between males and females of the same species, can possibly be attributed to differences in living or feeding conditions.
- These variations should be considered when interpreting laboratory data on these animals.
Cite This Article
APA
Shawaf T, Almathen F, Meligy A, El-Deeb W, Al-Bulushi S.
(2017).
Biochemical analysis of some serum trace elements in donkeys and horses in Eastern region of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Vet World, 10(10), 1269-1274.
https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2017.1269-1274 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Studies, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, 400 Al-Hasa, 31982, Saudi Arabia.
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Animal Husbandry, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, 400 Al-Hasa, 31982, Saudi Arabia.
- Department of Clinical Studies, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, 400 Al-Hasa, 31982, Saudi Arabia.
- Department of Physiology, Agricultural Research Center, Egypt.
- Department of Clinical Studies, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, 400 Al-Hasa, 31982, Saudi Arabia.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Fish Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
- Department of Clinical Studies, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, 400 Al-Hasa, 31982, Saudi Arabia.
References
This article includes 35 references
- Balamurugan B, Ramamoorthy M, Ravi J, Keerthana G, Gopalakrishnan K.M, Kharayat S, Chaudhary G.R, Rahul K. Mineral an important nutrient for efficient reproductive health in dairy cattle.. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2017;6(1):694–701.
- Elrod CC, Van Amburgh M, Butler WR. Alterations of pH in response to increased dietary protein in cattle are unique to the uterus.. J Anim Sci 1993 Mar;71(3):702-6.
- Topczewska J. Effects of seasons on the concentration of selected trace elements in horse hair.. J. Cent. Eur. Agric. 2012;13(4):671–680.
- Humann-Zehank E, Genter M, Hennig-Pauka I, Binder A. Trace mineral status and liver and blood parameters in sheep without mineral supply compared to local roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) populations.. Small Rumin. Res. 2008;75:185–191.
- Prashanth L, Kattapagari K.K, Chitturi R, Baddam V, Prasad L. A review on role of essential trace elements in health and disease.. J. NTR Univ. Health Sci. 2015;4(2):75–78.
- Laven RA, Livesey CT, Harmon RJ, Scaletti R. Factors affecting the relationship between caeruloplasmin activity and plasma copper concentration in cattle.. Vet Rec 2006 Aug 19;159(8):250-1.
- Forrer R, Wenker CH, Gautschi K, Lutz H. Concentration of 17 trace elements in serum and whole blood of plains viscachas (Lagostomus maximus) by ICP-MS, their reference ranges, and their relation to cataract.. Biol Trace Elem Res 2001 Jul;81(1):47-62.
- Stanek M, Jaworski Z, Sobotka W, Lipiński K, Olenkowicz R. Influence of an organic supplement of copper, zinc and manganese in feed rations on concentrationsof these elements in the coat of Polish Konik horses.. J. Elem. 2016;21(2):549–558.
- Ciftci TU, Ciftci B, Yis O, Guney Y, Bilgihan A, Ogretensoy M. Changes in serum selenium, copper, zinc levels and cu/zn ratio in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis during therapy.. Biol Trace Elem Res 2003 Oct;95(1):65-71.
- Nève J, Palmieri P. First symposium on human health related aspects of selenium research in Europe.. J. Trace Elem. Med. Biol. 2000;14:116–121.
- Cefalu WT, Hu FB. Role of chromium in human health and in diabetes.. Diabetes Care 2004 Nov;27(11):2741-51.
- Schuschke DA. Dietary copper in the physiology of the microcirculation.. J Nutr 1997 Dec;127(12):2274-81.
- Maggini S, Wintergerst ES, Beveridge S, Hornig DH. Selected vitamins and trace elements support immune function by strengthening epithelial barriers and cellular and humoral immune responses.. Br J Nutr 2007 Oct;98 Suppl 1:S29-35.
- Oppenheimer SJ. Iron and its relation to immunity and infectious disease.. J Nutr 2001 Feb;131(2S-2):616S-633S; discussion 633S-635S.
- Hambidge M. Human zinc deficiency.. J Nutr 2000 May;130(5S Suppl):1344S-9S.
- Caulfield LE, Zavaleta N, Figueroa A. Adding zinc to prenatal iron and folate supplements improves maternal and neonatal zinc status in a Peruvian population.. Am J Clin Nutr 1999 Jun;69(6):1257-63.
- Fraker PJ, King LE, Laakko T, Vollmer TL. The dynamic link between the integrity of the immune system and zinc status.. J Nutr 2000 May;130(5S Suppl):1399S-406S.
- Shawaf T, Almathen F, Al-Ahmad J, Elmoslemany A. Morphological characteristics of hassawi donkey, eastern province, Saudi Arabia.. Alex J Vet. Sci. 2016;49:178–183.
- Passlack N, Mainzer B, Lahrssen-Wiederholt M, Schafft H, Palavinskas R, Breithaupt A, Zentek J. Concentrations of strontium, barium, cadmium, copper, zinc, manganese, chromium, antimony, selenium, and lead in the liver and kidneys of dogs according to age, gender, and the occurrence of chronic kidney disease.. J Vet Sci 2015;16(1):57-66.
- Al-Bulushi S, Shawaf T, Al-Hasani A. Some hematological and biochemical parameters of different goat breeds in Sultanate of Oman "A preliminary study".. Vet World 2017 Apr;10(4):461-466.
- Roubies N, Panousis N, Fytianou A, Katsoulos PD, Giadinis N, Karatzias H. Effects of age and reproductive stage on certain serum biochemical parameters of chios sheep under greek rearing conditions.. J Vet Med A Physiol Pathol Clin Med 2006 Aug;53(6):277-81.
- Soylak M, Saracoglu S, Tuzen M, Mendil D. Determination of trace metals in mushroom samples from Kayseri Turkey.. Food Chem. 2005;82:649–652.
- Waegeneers N, Pizzolon JC, Hoenig M, De Temmerman L. Accumulation of trace elements in cattle from rural and industrial areas in Belgium.. Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess 2009 Mar;26(3):326-32.
- Muirhead TL, Wichtel JJ, Stryhn H, McClure JT. The selenium and vitamin E status of horses in Prince Edward Island.. Can Vet J 2010 Sep;51(9):979-85.
- Richardson SM, Siciliano PD, Engle TE, Larson CK, Ward TL. Effect of selenium supplementation and source on the selenium status of horses.. J Anim Sci 2006 Jul;84(7):1742-8.
- Fantuz F, Ferraro S, Todini L, Mariani P, Piloni R, Salimei E. Essential trace elements in milk and blood serum of lactating donkeys as affected by lactation stage and dietary supplementation with trace elements.. Animal 2013 Nov;7(11):1893-9.
- Okumura M, Asano M, Tagami M, Tsukiyama K, Fujinaga T. Serum copper and ceruloplasmin activity at the early growing stage in foals.. Can J Vet Res 1998 Apr;62(2):122-6.
- Sharkawy A.A, Rateb H.Z, Abdel-Mohsen M. Evaluation of some heavy metals in blood and tissues of male camels as indicator of environmental pollution and its relation to age.. Assuit Univ. Bull. Environ. Res. 2002;5:73–81.
- Hasegawa M, Yoshida K, Wakabayashi H, Sudo A. Cobalt and chromium ion release after large-diameter metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty.. J Arthroplasty 2012 Jun;27(6):990-6.
- Maia L, Souza M.V, Fernandes R.B.A, Fontes M.P.F, Viana M.W.S, Luz W.V. Heavy metals in the horse blood, serum, and feed in Minas Gerais.. J Equine Vet. Sci. 2006;26:578–583.
- De Souza M, Paulo M, Fontes F, Bragança R, Fernandes A. Heavy metals in equine biological components.. R Bras. Zootec. 2014b;43(2):60–66.
- Zaeemi M, Razmi G.R, Mohammadi G.R, Abedi V, Yaghfoori S. Evaluation of serum biochemical profile in Turkoman horses and donkeys infected with Theileria equi.. Rev. Méd. Vét. 2016;167(11-12):301–309.
- Dierenfeld S, Shirley A, N, Craig A, Karen C, Walker W, Jurgen S, Marcus C. Mineral concentrations in serum/plasma and liver tissue of captive and free-ranging Rhinoceros Species.. Zoo Biol. 2005;24:51–72.
- De Auer, Ng JC, Seawright AA. Assessment of copper and zinc status of farm horses and training thoroughbreds in south-east Queensland.. Aust Vet J 1988 Oct;65(10):317-20.
- Birick H, Ocal N, Gucus A.I, Ediz B, Uzman M. Seasonal changes of some mineral status in mares.. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2005;25:346–348.
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Shawaf T, Bulushi SA, Al-Ali MA, Meligy AMA, Salouci M, Hussen J. Investigation of some trace elements and hematological and biochemical parameters in the blood of emaciated Omani goats.. Vet World 2021 Jul;14(7):1960-1965.
- Quaresma M, Marín C, Bacellar D, Nóvoa M, Navas FJ, McLean A. Selenium and Vitamin E Concentrations in Miranda Jennies and Foals (Equus asinus) in Northeast Portugal.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jun 14;11(6).
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists