Essential mineral and haemato-biochemical status of ill-Thrift buffalo calves in the fluoride endemic south-west Punjab, India

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate essential mineral and haemato-biochemical status of the ill-thrift buffalo calves (n=21) in comparison to the healthy control (n=63) in the fluoride endemic south-west Punjab, India. Blood samples of the calves were analysed for plasma fluoride, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, molybdenum, zinc, iron, manganese, arsenic, ceruloplasmin and alkaline phosphatase activity, urea nitrogen, creatinine, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, serum total proteins and albumin, and Hb, PCV, TEC. Mean fluoride concentration in the ill-thrift calves (0.20±0.07 μgml-1) was higher than the physiological limit of 0.10 μgml-1 and also was significantly (P<0.05) higher than that in the healthy control (0.07±0.01 μgml-1). There was significant reduction (P<0.05) in plasma Pi, Zn, ceruloplasmin activity, Hb and TEC concentrations in the ill-thrift calves in comparison to the healthy control. The alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the ill-thrift calves. It is concluded that higher plasma fluoride concentrations reflected moderately high fluoride intake which resulted in impaired metabolism of essential minerals Cu, Zn and P, and depressed haematopoitic activity that might caused ill-thrift in the buffalo calves from the fluoride endemic region of south-west Punjab in India.