Foot rot in small ruminants is highly contagious, causes severe lameness, and impairs fertility and wool and meat production. It is usually treated with parenteral antibiotics, with attendant antibiotic resistance risk, and with bactericidal footbaths, potentially harmful to humans and the environment. An alternative treatment in sheep is proposed based on repeated topical ozonated ointment application. Its effectiveness and safety were evaluated by estimation of acute-phase response, biochemical indicators of organic damage, and antioxidant/oxidant balance (AOB). The study was conducted on ten sheep with Egerton scale 2–3 lesions. Ozone application was repeated every day for seven days. Blood was drawn first (T0) after foot cleaning and before ozonation, then (T1) seven days after the first ozone application, and finally (T2) four days after the last application. High clinical effectiveness was observed, with total recovery by 28 days from the start of treatment. A significant increase in antiradical activity was noted on the basis of a 2,2ʹ-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) assay from 1.16 ± 0.04 μmolTe/mL at T0 to 1.23 ± 0.03 μmolTe/mL at T1, with a slight decrease in oxidative stress. Calculated on the basis of antiradical capacity, AOB was higher at T1 (130 ± 19%) and decreased to 110 ± 16% at T2. Calculated on the basis of reducing power, it was 169 ± 22% at T1 and 131 ± 17% at T2. These results indicated that the AOB is efficient enough to prevent oxidative organ injury and the applied doses of ozone are safe for animals.

Introduction: The study aimed at evaluating oxidative stress using malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) markers in sheep naturally infected with Psoroptes ovis (Acari).Material and Methods: The study was performed on 40 sheep divided into two equal groups: a healthy group (group I) and a group naturally infected with Psoroptes ovis (group II). The sera were obtained by centrifuging blood samples collected from the vena jugularis and serum MDA level changes in the samples were measured spectrophotometrically. Commercially available test kits were used for the measurement of TAC and TOS levels. The percentage ratio of TOS level to TAC level was accepted as OSI.Results: The serum malondialdehyde, total oxidant status levels, and oxidative stress index increased significantly (P < 0.01) in group II, while the serum total antioxidant capacity levels decreased significantly (P < 0.01) in this group. Negative correlations between total antioxidant capacity and total oxidant status and total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde, and a positive correlation between total oxidant status and malondialdehyde were found in infected sheep.Conclusion: The obtained results indicated the relationship between oxidant/antioxidant imbalance and Psoroptes ovis infection in sheep. Their MDA, TAC, TOS, and OSI markers may be used to determine the oxidative stress in natural infections with Psoroptes ovis.

Introduction: The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the blood glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels under seasonal variations in dairy cows during transition period, and to assess the relationship between chosen reproductive parameters, GSH-Px, and MDA. Material and Methods: Holstein cows calving in January were assigned into winter group (n = 42), while cows calving in August were assigned into summer group (n = 42). Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein 21, 14, and 7 days before calving, at calving (0 day), and 7, 14, and 21 days after calving. Reproductive parameters obtained from farm records were evaluated. Results: In both groups of cows, GSH-Px activity decreased from 21 days before calving to day 0, and it gradually continued to increase until 21 days after calving. GSH-Px activity was higher in winter group compared to summer group during the transition period (P < 0.05). MDA levels in both groups increased over time starting from 21 days before calving to 0 day, but it gradually decreased thereafter. MDA levels were higher in summer group compared to winter group during the transition periods (P < 0.05). Summer group of cows showed higher intervals of calving-to-oestrus, calving-to-conception, and higher insemination index (P < 0.01). Negative correlation was recorded between GSH-Px and MDA during all examination days (P < 0.01). MDA levels correlated with calving to conception interval on day 21 before calving and day 0 (P < 0.01) and insemination index on day 0 and 21 days after calving (P < 0.01). GSH-Px activity was negatively correlated with calving to conception interval on day 21 before calving, day 0, and 21 days (P < 0.01) after calving. Negative correlation on day 21 before calving and day 0 was also determined between GSH-Px and insemination index (P < 0.01). Conclusion: This study showed that blood oxidant and antioxidant levels have affected the fertility parameters in cows under seasonal variations.

To clarify the oxidant defense functions of reduced glutathione (GSH) in erythrocytes, the effect of GSH deficiency on in vitro oxidant defense was studied, using GSH-deficient sheep erythrocytes (low-GSH cells). The formation of Heinz bodies in low-GSH cells was higher than that in high-GSH cells when the cells were incubated with an oxidant drug, acetyl-phenylhydrazine (APH). Artificial depletion of GSH by 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene in high-GSH cells resulted in increased Heinz body formation in these cells incubated with APH. Furthermore, high negative correlation was observed between Heinz body formation and GSH content in sheep erythrocytes exposed to APH. These results clearly indicate that erythrocyte GSH is indispensable for erythrocyte defense against oxidative damage induced by APH, and support the previous observations that sheep with low-GSH erythrocytes were more susceptible to oxidative agents than were sheep with high-GSH erythrocytes.

The ability of IV administered hydroxyethyl-starch-deferoxamine to attenuate radical production in freshly procured cancellous bone specimens was investigated, using spin-trapping and electron spin resonance (ESR) techniques. A core cancellous bone specimen 10 mm long and 5.6 mm in diameter was obtained, using aseptic technique, from the proximal portion of the humerus of 30 adult mixed-breed dogs. After procurement of the initial bone specimen, 10 dogs received a 10% solution of hydroxyethyl-starch-deferoxamine in 0.9% NaCl (50 mg/kg of body weight, IV), 10 dogs received an equivalent volume (5 ml/kg, IV) of a 10% solution of hydroxyethyl-starch in 0.9% NaCl, and 10 dogs received 0.9% saline solution (5 ml/kg, IV). A second core cancellous bone specimen was obtained from the contralateral humerus of each dog 45 minutes after treatment. All specimens were individually incubated in the spin trap alpha-phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone in Eagle's minimum essential medium, at 26 C for 45 minutes, then were frozen at -20 C until they were prepared for analysis by ESR spectroscopy. Each specimen was thawed, homogenized, and extracted in a low-dielectric organic solvent prior to obtaining an ESR spectrum, which was analyzed for hyperfine splitting constants for radical identification. Each first-derivative spectrum was digitally double-integrated to obtain an area; these areas were used to compare intensities of the spin adducts. Difference in the area obtained before and after treatment for each dog was expressed as a ratio of that dogs pretreatment area ([pretreatment - posttreatment]/pretreatment). The calculated ratios for saline-, hydroxyethyl-starch-, and hydroxyethyl-starch-deferoxamine-treated dogs were compared, using a Kruskal-Wallis (KW) nonparametric test for multiple comparisons of ranked data. Significance was determined at P less than or equal to 0.05. Ad hoc comparisons were performed, using the KW procedure for individual comparisons, with alpha set at 0.05. The mean +/- SD and median ratio for each of the treatment groups were: saline-treated dogs, 0.005 +/- 0.40 and 0.045; hydroxyethyl-starch-treated dogs, -0.063 +/- 0.27 and -0.025; hydroxyethyl-starch-deferoxamine-treated dogs, 0.261 +/- 0.278 and 0.335, respectively. There was a significant (P < 0.01, KW) difference in the ratios between treatment groups. Ratios for hydroxyethyl-starch-deferoxamine-treated dogs were significantly (P < 0.05, KW) higher than that for hydroxyethyl-starch-treated dogs but not for saline-treated dogs. The ratios for saline- and hydroxyethyl-starch-treated dogs were not significantly different. We could not associate significant attenuation of radical generation in freshly harvested core cancellous bone specimens with IV administration of hydroxyethyl-starch-deferoxamine. The potential for unconjugated hydroxyethyl-starch to function as an oxidant must considered.

Results of researches on studying influence separate and combination feeding fermented compositions Fekord-2004C and biologically active additive Oxide Peat on energy of growth and protective properties of an organism of pigs – deprivation are stated. It is established that enrichment of mixed fodder investigated by the fodder fermented additive Fekord-2004C at the rate of 0,15 kg on ton of mixed fodder in combination application with biologically active substance Oxide Peat in a doze of 1,0 kg on ton of mixed fodder promotes increase of growth rate of pigs on development and to decrease of the charge of forages on unit of a gain of alive weight and safety of pigs