Bovine calves as ideal bio-indicators for fluoridated drinking water and endemic osteo-dental fluorosis.
Abstract: Relative susceptibility to fluoride (F) toxicosis in the form of osteo-dental fluorosis was observed in an observational survey of 2,747 mature and 887 immature domestic animals of diverse species living in areas with naturally fluoridated (>1.5 ppm F) drinking water. These animals included buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis), cattle (Bos taurus), camels (Camelus dromedarius), donkeys (Equus asinus), horses (Equus caballus), goats (Capra hircus), and sheep (Ovis aries). Of these mature and immature animals, 899 (32.7 %) and 322 (36.3 %) showed evidence of dental fluorosis with varying grades, respectively. Their incisor teeth were stained with light to deep brownish color. On clinical examination, 31.2 % mature and 10.7 % immature animals revealed periosteal exostoses, intermittent lameness, and stiffness of tendons in the legs as signs of skeletal fluorosis. The maximum susceptibility to fluoride toxicosis was found in bovines (buffaloes and cattle) followed by equines (donkeys and horses), flocks (goats and sheep), and camelids (camels). The bovine calves were found to be more sensitive and highly susceptible to F toxicosis and revealed the maximum prevalence (92.2 %) of dental fluorosis. This indicates that bovine calves are less tolerant and give early sign of F poisoning (dental fluorosis) and therefore, they can be considered as bio-indicators for fluoridated water as well as for endemicity of osteo-dental fluorosis. Causes for variation in susceptibility to F toxicosis (fluorosis) in various species of domestic animal are also discussed.
Publication Date: 2014-03-27 PubMed ID: 24671615DOI: 10.1007/s10661-014-3713-xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Animal Health
- Animal Science
- Bovine Papilloma Virus
- Clinical Examination
- Clinical Findings
- Dental Health
- Diagnosis
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Etiology
- Disease Prevalence
- Domestic Animals
- Endemic Disease
- Equine Health
- Musculoskeletal System
- Observational Study
- Public Health
- Species Comparison
- Toxicology
- Veterinary Medicine
- Water
Summary
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This research study examines the susceptibility of domestic animals to fluoride toxicity, using incidences of osteo-dental fluorosis as a marker. It concludes that bovine calves (young cows and buffaloes) are the most sensitive to fluoridation and could serve as bio-indicators for fluoridated water and the prevalence of osteo-dental fluorosis.
Objective of the Research
- The aim of this research was to gauge the susceptibility of various species of domestic animals to fluoride (F) toxicity, by observing the prevalence of osteo-dental fluorosis—a common outcome of such toxicity. The study was driven by the varied responses different species of animals had to fluoride in their drinking water.
Research Methodology and Key Findings
- An observational survey was conducted on 3,634 domestic animals (2,747 mature and 887 immature) of diverse species which had access to naturally fluoridated drinking water (water with more than 1.5 ppm F).
- The animal species under observation were buffaloes, cattle, camels, donkeys, horses, goats, and sheep.
- It was found that 32.7% of mature and 36.3% of immature animals showed symptoms of dental fluorosis. The fluoride toxicity stained their incisor teeth with a light to deep brownish color.
- Clinical examinations revealed that 31.2% of mature and 10.7% of immature animals presented with skeletal fluorosis symptoms like periosteal exostoses, intermittent lameness, and stiffness of tendons in the legs.
- The bovines (buffaloes and cattle) demonstrated the highest susceptibility to fluoride toxicosis, followed by equines (donkeys and horses), flocks (goats and sheep), then lastly camels.
- Bovine calves proved to be the most sensitive to F toxicosis. They demonstrated the highest prevalence of dental fluorosis (92.2%) indicating their low tolerance to fluoride poisoning.
Implication of Findings
- The study suggests that bovine calves could be used as bio-indicators for fluoridated water due to their high susceptibility and sensitivity to fluoride toxicity. It means their health state can signal the presence and levels of fluoride in water resources, and the prevalence of osteo-dental fluorosis in a given area.
Cite This Article
APA
Choubisa SL.
(2014).
Bovine calves as ideal bio-indicators for fluoridated drinking water and endemic osteo-dental fluorosis.
Environ Monit Assess, 186(7), 4493-4498.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-014-3713-x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Parasitology and Toxicology Research Laboratory, Post Graduate Department of Zoology, Government Meera Girls College, Udaipur, Rajasthan, 313001, India, choubisasl@yahoo.com.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Buffaloes
- Cattle
- Drinking Water / chemistry
- Environmental Monitoring / methods
- Fluorides / analysis
- Fluorides / toxicity
- Fluorosis, Dental / epidemiology
- Horses
- Humans
- Prevalence
- Sheep
- Tooth / chemistry
- Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis
- Water Pollutants, Chemical / toxicity
References
This article includes 6 references
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- Shupe JL. Clinicopathologic features of fluoride toxicosis in cattle.. J Anim Sci 1980 Sep;51(3):746-58.
- Druart C, Millet M, Scheifler R, Delhomme O, Raeppel C, de Vaufleury A. Snails as indicators of pesticide drift, deposit, transfer and effects in the vineyard.. Sci Total Environ 2011 Sep 15;409(20):4280-8.
- Choubisa SL. Snails as bio-indicators for dreaded trematodiasis diseases.. J Commun Dis 2010 Sep;42(3):223-6.
- Kalisińska E, Palczewska-Komsa M. Teeth of the red fox Vulpes vulpes (L., 1758) as a bioindicator in studies on fluoride pollution.. Acta Theriol (Warsz) 2011 Oct;56(4):343-351.
- Suttie JW. Nutritional aspects of fluoride toxicosis.. J Anim Sci 1980 Sep;51(3):759-66.
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Habiyakare T, Schurer JM, Poole B, Murcott S, Migabo B, Mardochee B, Amuguni JH, Morgan JP. Dental fluorosis among people and livestock living on Gihaya Island in Lake Kivu, Rwanda. One Health Outlook 2021 Dec 20;3(1):23.
- Kelly LH, Uzal FA, Poppenga RH, Kinde H, Hill AE, Wilson WD, Webb BT. Equine dental and skeletal fluorosis induced by well water consumption. J Vet Diagn Invest 2020 Nov;32(6):942-947.
- Choubisa SL. A brief and critical review on hydrofluorosis in diverse species of domestic animals in India. Environ Geochem Health 2018 Feb;40(1):99-114.
- Mandal KD, Das MR, Pati M, Pati PD, Gupta AR, Patra RC, Senapati SK. Effect of Moringa oleifera on hematological parameters of calves reared in industrial fluorotic area. Vet World 2015 Nov;8(11):1364-9.
- Choubisa SL, Choubisa D. Status of industrial fluoride pollution and its diverse adverse health effects in man and domestic animals in India. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2016 Apr;23(8):7244-54.
- Choubisa SL, Choubisa D. Neighbourhood fluorosis in people residing in the vicinity of superphosphate fertilizer plants near Udaipur city of Rajasthan (India). Environ Monit Assess 2015 Aug;187(8):497.
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