Status of heavy metals and pesticide residues and their effect on dairy animal health in south-west Punjab
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Date
2015
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Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana
Abstract
The present research work was undertaken to assess status of heavy metals (nickel, cadmium, chromium, arsenic), fluoride and pesticide residues, and their effects on health, haemato-biochemical and oxidative status in dairy buffaloes in the polluted South-west zone of Punjab, India. Buffaloes were selected randomly from villages of district Mansa of South-west Punjab. Buffaloes from a non-polluted area served as control. Significantly (p<0.01) higher plasma nickel, cadmium and chromium concentrations were observed in buffaloes from Mansa district in comparison to control buffaloes. Hair arsenic in 95.5 per cent buffaloes were higher than the normal concentrations. Moreover, 75.7 per cent buffaloes were affected by subclinical fluorosis. Organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides were detected in 22.9 per cent buffaloes and chlorpyrifos was major pesticide prevalent in buffaloes. Weakness, anestrous, repeat breeding, chronic diarrhoea and lameness were observed in 17.0, 9.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 4.0 per cent buffaloes, respectively. In comparison to healthy buffaloes, repeat breeding buffaloes had significantly lower plasma nickel and albumin, and higher plasma chromium, whereas weak buffaloes had significantly higher plasma chromium and lower albumin concentrations. Buffaloes with chronic diarrhoea had significantly lower plasma nickel and higher cadmium concentrations, whereas, in anestrous buffaloes, TLC counts were significantly higher and plasma albumin concentrations were significantly lower. Subclinical anemia was observed in 19.7 per cent buffaloes, which could be due to pesticides, high fluoride and poor protein status in buffaloes. Significant positive correlations were observed between plasma nickel and TEC, total proteins or albumin; plasma chromium and MDA or SOD; hair arsenic and GSH concentrations. Significant negative correlations were seen between plasma nickel and MDA; MDA and plasma nickel or cadmium; plasma chromium and Hb, total proteins or albumin; hair arsenic and PCV or AST; plasma F and PCV concentrations. Thus, haemogram and protein status tended to improve and lipid peroxidation tended to decline with increase in nickel or decrease in chromium contents in buffalo plasma. Moreover, pesticide positive buffaloes had significantly lower Hb, PCV and TLC, and significantly higher plasma total proteins and GSH concentrations. Quality of drinking water with respect to metals and fluoride contents was poor in district Mansa. For livestock, the water was unfit with respect to nickel and fluoride, and for humans, it was unfit with respect to nickel, cadmium, chromium, arsenic and fluoride. Drinking water fluoride contents influenced occurrence of diseases in buffaloes, which increased with increase in water fluoride