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The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of L-carnitine in the treatment of experimentally induced hypomagnesemia in sheep. This study was carried out on 10 ossimi rams aged 10-12 months old with an average live weight of 35±1.1 kg that were used for experimental induction of hypomagnesemia. Rams with induced hypomagnesaemia were divided into two groups according to the line of treatment. The first group (n=5) was treated by the traditional treatment alone while the second group (n=5) was treated by the traditional treatment in addition to L-carnitine (20 mg/kg I/V). The symptoms of hypomagnesemia appeared gradually until complete appearance of symptoms at day 28 post induction. There was significant decrease (P < 0.05) in serum magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), glucose and parathyroid hormone (PTH) in experimentally induced hypomagnesemic rams. However, there were significant increase (P < 0.05) in serum sodium (Na), potassium (K), urea, creatinine, cortisol, creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and troponin I (cTnI) in experimentally induced hypomagnesemic rams. Treatment of hypomagnesemia with traditional treatment and L-carnitine resulted in significant elevation (P < 0.05) of serum Mg, Ca, glucose and PTH in hypomagnesemic rams than traditional treatment only. However, there were significant reduction (P < 0.05) in serum K, urea, CPK and cTnI than traditional treatment only at 24 hour after treatment. Based on the results of this study we concluded that the addition of L-carnitine to the traditional treatment of hypomagnesaemia in sheep is effective and produced earlier and more pronounced recovery.

The effects of shearing on behavioral patterns, antioxidants, and inflammatory and stress biomarkers was investigated in Ossimi sheep. Clinical parameters and behavioral patterns were recorded, and serum samples were collected pre-shearing and 1, 5, 10 and 15 days post-shearing from 60 Ossimi sheep. The results revealed that grooming and standing idle frequencies were significantly (P

Problem statement: Samples of allantoic, amniotic fluid, fetal liver, kidney, maternal plasma and liver were collected from 30 ewes and classified into either early or late gestation and copper concentrations were measured. Approach: The Cu concentrations in the maternal plasma, allantoic, amniotic fluid, fetal liver and kidney increased significantly (p

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element in animal nutrition, and exerts multiple actions related to animal production, fertility and disease prevention. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) enzyme was the first proven selenoenzyme that can prevent oxidative damage of the cellular membrane. Actually more than 30 selenoenzymes have been described and a hierarchy process for expression in the animal has been established. White muscle disease (WMD) was the first recognized condition associated with Se deficiency. WMD causes new born mortality, especially in ruminants, and impaired production condition in growing and adult animals. Selenium is critical to thyroid hormone synthesis and it is also very important for converting T4 (thyroxin inactive form) to T3 (active form). A good immune response requires Se too. Selenium status in soil, plants and animal blood and tissue can be used in the diagnosis of Se deficiency. Diverse forms of Se supplements are available, but many factors affect their activity and efficacy, such as its chemical form and animal's health and production condition. The relationships between foetus Se metabolism and pregnant dam Se status are critical for productivity and need further research.

Twenty pregnant ewes were selected and classified into two groups. The first group received subcutaneous selenium supplementation (0.1 mg of sodium selenite/kg BW) at the 8th and 5th weeks before birth and 1st week after birth while the other was control group without selenium injection. Maternal plasma and serum samples were collected weekly from the 8th week before birth until the 8th week after birth and milk samples were taken from ewes weekly, while plasma and serum samples were collected at 48 hours, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 8th weeks after birth from the newborn lambs. Results demonstrated significant positive relationship between maternal plasma selenium and serum T3 in supplemented and control ewes (r=0.69to 0.72,P<0.05). There was significant (P<0.001) increase in T3 in supplemented ewes and their lambs until the 8th week after birth. There was positive relationship between milk, selenium concentration, and serum T3 in the newborn lambs of the supplemented group (r=0.84,P<0.01), while the relationship was negative in the control one (r=-0.89,P<0.01). Muscular and thyroid pathological changes were independent of selenium supplementation. Selenium supplementation was important for maintaining T3 in ewes and newborn lambs until the 8th week after birth.

The influence of experimental copper deficiency on selenium, thyroid hormone (T3 and T4) and glutathione peroxidase enzyme was investigated in sheep. Fifteen Ossimi sheep were divided into two groups, the first one (N=5) as control fed on balanced ration and the second group (N=10) was subjected to experimental induction of Cu deficiency by feeding on diet containing molybdenum and sulfur for 24 weeks. Serum samples were collected every 3 weeks for evaluation of Cu, Se, T3 T4 and GSH-Px. The experimental Cu deficient sheep showed crimpless wool with de-pigmentation, decreased food intake, reduction in weight gain, pale mucous membrane, stiffness in gait and incoordination at 9th, 12th, 15th and 24th week, respectively. There was significant decrease in the level of Cu, Se, T4 and GSH-Px from the 3rd, 9th, 15th and 18th week while there was no significant change in T3 level. Significant positive correlations between Cu and Se (r = 0.85,P < 0.01), T4 ( r = 0.95, P < 0.01) and GSH-Px (r = 0.79, P < 0.05) were detected in Cu deficient sheep as well as significant positive correlations between Se with T4 (r = 0.89 , P < 0.01) and GSH-Px (r = 0.73, P < 0.05) were found and significant positive correlations between GSH-Px with T3 ( r = 0.63, P < 0.05) and T4 (r =0.83, P < 0.01). Therefore, it was concluded that induced Cu deficiency was related to marked changes in Se, thyroid (T4) and GSH-Px in sheep.

Pregnancy toxemia was induced in nine pregnant goat does with twins by the stress of fasting with access to water in late pregnancy to investigate the effect of pregnancy toxemia on immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM, and IgG), cortisol, insulin, thyroid, and growth hormones and their correlations with the plasma levels of glucose andβ-Hydroxybutyrate. Plasma samples were collected at 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 72 hours after induction of pregnancy toxemia. The result revealed that experimental animals developed neurological findings with convulsions and acetone odor from the mouth with recumbency after 72 hours. Laboratory findings showed a significant increase inβ-Hydroxybutyrate, cortisol, and insulin while there were significant decreases in glucose, thyroid, and immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM, and IgG). Plasma glucose concentrations had significant negative correlations withβ-hydroxybutyrate, cortisol, and insulin while the correlations were significantly positive with immunoglobulins and thyroid hormone. Plasmaβ-hydroxybutyrate concentration was significantly positively correlated with cortisol and negatively correlated with immunoglobulins, insulin, and thyroid hormone. From this study we can conclude that pregnancy toxemia might affect humoral immune responses as well as insulin, cortisol, and thyroid hormones. Moreover, insulin might have a compensatory role to increase suppressive effect on ketogenesis in experimentally pregnant toxemic goats.