Kıl Yiyen Manda Yavrularında Oksidatif Stresin Değerlendirilmesi

Pika yem niteliğinde olmayan tahta parçaları, toprak, kemik ve kıl gibi maddelerin yenilmesi olarak tanımlanmaktadır. Kıl yeme hastalığı olan hayvanlar kendi vücutlarındaki veya diğer hayvanların vücutlarındaki kılları ısırıp kopararak deride alopecia ve yaralanmalara neden olabilirler. Bu araştırmada birbirlerinin kıllarını yiyen manda yavrularında total antiokidan durum (TAS), total oksidan durum (TOS) ve oksidatif stres indeksi (OSI) düzeylerinin araştırılması amaçlandı. Çalışmanın materyalini 110 başlık manda sürüsünde bulunan, 1-6 aylık yaşlarda, kıl yeme semptomu gösteren 22 manda yavrusu (Grup 1) ile kıl yeme semptomu olmayan ve herhangi bir hastalık belirtisi göstermeyen 6 manda yavrusu (Grup 2) olmak üzere toplam 28 hayvan oluşturdu. TAS, TOS ve OSI seviyelerini ölçmek için hayvanların vena jugularislerinden kan örnekleri alındı. Hasta hayvanların serum ortalama TOS ve OSI seviyelerinin kontrol grubuna göre önemli düzeyde yüksek olduğu tespit edildi. Sonuç olarak, kıl yeme semptomlu manda yavrularında oksidatif/antioksidatif dengenin oksidatif yöne kaydığı tespit edilmiştir.

Pica is defined as the appetite of the animals for non-feed substances, such as wood pieces, soil, bone, or hair. Animals with hair-eating disorders can bite and pluck hair from their bodies or other animals, causing alopecia and skin injuries. In the present study, it was aimed to investigate the total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) levels in buffalo calves that ate each other’s hair. The study included 28 calves from a buffalo herd of 110 animals, including 22 buffalo calves with hair-eating symptoms (Group 1) and 6 calves without any hair-eating symptoms or signs of any disease (Group 2), aged 1–6 months. Blood samples were collected from the animals’ jugular veins to measure the TAS, TOS and OSI levels. Serum mean TOS and OSI levels of Group 1 were significantly higher than Group 2. In conclusion, the oxidative/antioxidative balance in the buffalo calves with hair-eating symptoms shifted in the direction of oxidation.

Giriş

Pica or allotriophagia is defined as the animals’ appetite for non-feedstuff substances, such as wood fragments, soil, bones and hair [1]. This condition, which is reported in cattle, buffaloes, swine, sheep and goats [2,3], is associated with heavy economic losses as a result of decreased milk yield, growth retardation, infertility and death in buffaloes [4]. Hair-eating disorder, called trichophagia [5] may occur because of vitamin and mineral deficiencies and stress-inducing factors (animals being kept indoors or in an overcrowded environment for prolonged periods). Animals with hair-eating symptoms may bite and pluck hair off their bodies or other animals [1,6], which may induce alopecia and skin injuries leading to infection of these wounds with bacteria or other pathogens [7].

Free radicals, which are produced in the normal cell metabolism may affect macromolecules, including lipids, carbohydrates, proteins and nucleic acids, causing oxidative damage [8,9]. The antioxidant system prevents the damage caused by free radicals [10]. Oxidant and antioxidant levels are balanced in an organism under normal conditions [11]. Oxidative stress is defined as the alteration of the balance between antioxidants and oxidants in favor of oxidants [8].

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the etiopathogenesis of various infectious, inflammatory and degenerative diseases [12]. The stimulation of the immunosuppressive system via stress and chronic diseases leads to an increase in the amount of free radicals and damage to tissues [9,10]. Pica reportedly causes significant stress in ruminants, such as cattle and buffalo and induces the oxidation process [13].

It is reported that there are many methods for determining oxidative stress, but the measurement of total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS) easy and inexpensive [14].

To the best of our knowledge, there is no relevant study in the literature that investigated oxidative stress in buffaloes with symptoms of hair-eating. Accordingly, the present study aimed to investigate the TAS, TOS and oxidative stress index (OSI) levels in buffalo calves, which eat each other’s hair.

Gereç ve Yöntem

Research and Publication Ethics: This research was approved by the Dicle University Animal Experiments Local Ethics Committee with the letter 08.07.2021 dated and numbered E-35582840-604.01.01-103178.

Animals and Sample Collection: The study included 28 calves from a buffalo herd of 110 animals, including 22 buffalo calves with hair-eating symptoms (Group 1) and 6 calves without any hair-eating symptoms or signs of any diseases (Group 2), aged 1–6 months.

Blood samples were collected from the jugular veins of the animals into the anticoagulant-free tubes to measure the serum mean TAS, TOS and OSI levels in Group 1 and Group 2. After the samples were coagulated at room temperature, serum samples were obtained via centrifugation for 10 minutes (3000 rpm). Serum samples were stored at −20°C until the time of analysis.

Analysis of Serum Samples: TAS and TOS levels in the serum samples were measured using commercial test kits (Rel Assay Diagnostics, Gaziantep, Türkiye). The TAS unit was converted to μmol/L for the calculation of OSI using the following equation (15):

OSI = [(TOS, μmol H₂O₂ equivalent/L) / (TAS, μmol Trolox equivalent/L)] × 100

Statistical Analyses: The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Ver. 16.0 statistical software program (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was used for the analysis of the data. The normality analysis of the obtained data was done with the Shapiro-Wilk test and it was determined that the groups showed normal distribution. The independent t-test was used to determine the significance of intergroup differences. Values were expressed in mean ± standard error of the mean. P<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant [16].

Bulgular

Animals with hair-eating symptoms ate each other’s hair and showed growth retardation, cachexia, alopecia and skin lesions during a clinical examination (Figure 1). Constipation and trichobezoars were observed in some of the animals along with the above manifestations (Figure 2).

No statistically significant difference was found between the serum mean TAS values of the calves included in Group 1 and Group 2 (P>0.05), whereas there was a significant difference between serum mean TOS and OSI values (P<0.05, Table 1).

Tartışma

Pica is observed in a wide range of animals with multiple forms and it is defined as the abnormal appetite or consumption of substances that do not have any nutritional value [17]. Animals with pica may show appetite for non-feedstuff substances such as soil, bones and hair in addition to licking surfaces [18].

This behaviourin buffaloes may lead to decreased milk yield, growth retardation, infertility and death caused by foreign body syndrome, thereby resulting in heavy economic losses [4]. Hair-eating disorder, a form of allotriophagia [19], is associated with weight loss, growth retardation, parakeratosis and alopecia in animals [19,20]. In addition, it may induce clinical symptoms such as blockages in the digestive tract, digestive disorders, pain and abdominal bloating [1,7] as a result of the accumulation of swallowed hair casts in the gastrointestinal tract and the transformation into undigested masses called trichobezoars [21]. In the present study, symptoms of growth retardation, dry skin and hair and alopecia were recorded in buffalo calves that ate each other’s hair. Furthermore, constipation and trichobezoars were detected in some of the calves.

Pica is an important condition in the ruminants that induces the oxidation process by causing stress [13]. It was reported that the amount of free radicals increased in certain cases, including stress, chronic diseases, infection and digestive disorders [11]. These free radicals were involved in the formation of inflammation and keratinization abnormalities in the skin [15] and the occurrence of tissue damage [11].

The body fights against the excess free radicals via its antioxidant defence system, which comprises antioxidant enzymes and nutritional antioxidants [22]. The antioxidant system prevents the damage caused by free radicals [10]. Antioxidants reduce the level of free radicals, thereby preventing them from damaging the cell [23].

Studies have shown that road transport [24], toxoplasmosis [9], lactation, and pregnancy [25], which cause stress in animals, lead to changes in oxidative stress parameters. In addition, it was reported that TOS level increased in tongue-playing cattle, but no change in TAS level [26].

Relevant studies investigating oxidative stress in animals with pica symptoms reported high levels of malondialdehyde [13,17], a marker of oxidative stress and low levels of total antioxidant capacity [13].

In the present study, serum mean TAS levels showed no significant differences between Group 1 and Group 2 (P>0.05). Group 1 had significantly higher serum mean TOS and OSI levels than Group 2 (P<0.05). These results suggested that the oxidant/antioxidant balance was altered in the buffalo calves with symptoms of hair-eating.

In conclusion, the oxidative/antioxidative balance in the buffalo calves with hair-eating symptoms shifted in the direction of oxidation; thus, the administration of drugs with antioxidant effects might prove beneficial in the treatment of these animals.

Acknowledgement
The authors would like to thank Prof. Dr. Hasan İÇEN for his kind assistance when performing this study.

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