Evaluation of meloxicam as stress modulator and investigations on prognostic indices in cases of assisted parturition in buffaloes
Abstract
Investigation was carried out to find out the efficacy of meloxicam, a non-steroial anti-inflammatory drug, as stress modulater in bovine dystocia cases and to determine probable prognostic indices in cases of assisted parturitions. The study was conducted on 41 buffaloes affected with dystocia. The animals included in the investigation were randomly divided into two groups. To study the effect of preemptive administration of non sterioidal anti-inflammatory analgesics on stress perception by the animal experiencing difficult birth, meloxicam was administered @ 0.5mg/kg b.wt. in 22 buffaloes (Group II) 15 minutes prior to obstetrical management of the case.
Alterations in haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, blood urea, creatinime plasma electrolytes, blood histamine and plasma cortisol levels were studied in blood samples collected from dystocia cases at 2 hour and 24 hours post treatment and compared with values in pretreatment (0 hour) samples Depending upon to the nature and cause of dystocia, the dystocia was relieved either by caesarean operation or by non
surgical manipulations and comparative study was done between surgically and nonsurgically handled and between meloxicam administered and unadminstered group of buffaloes. Survival of the dam was correlated with the observations on different parameters studied.
Preemptive administration of meloxicam had no influence on body temperature, respiration rate or heart rate of dystocia affected buffaloes but ruminal motility failed to improve post treatment in meloxicam treated cases. Significant difference was not observed in haemoglobin concentration levels between meloxicam administered and unadminstered buffaloes but creatinine concentration was significantly (P<0.05) higher in caesarean operated buffaloes administered meloxicam preoperatively than the buffaloes, operated without meloxicam administration. When meloxicam was not administered prior to obstetrical intervention a significant decrease was in chloride concentration was evident by 24 hours post treatment and blood urea concentration was significantly lower following intervention than the non surgical management of dystocia. Plasma cortisol and blood histamine levels were not effected by preemptive administration of meloxicam.
Significant difference was not observed in body temperature, respiration rate, heart rate, haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, plasma creatinine and plasma sodium and potassium levels between surgically and non surgically treated buffaleos but chorlide concentration was significantly lower and blood histamine was found to be higher in caesarean operated buffaloes than the buffaloes with non surgically management of the case. Also the peripheral cortisol concentration were higher in laparohysterotomised buffaloes without administration of meloxicam than the non surigically treated buffaloes.
Body temperature and respiration rate were significantly lower and rumen motility significantly improved in bufflaoes which survived following treatment. Significantly (P< 0.05) higher creatinine and blood histamine concentration were recorded in buffaloes which died but chloride levels were significantly lower following treatment in those animals which died than those which survived. The pretreatment cortisol levels, was negatively related with the survival of the dam following laparohysterotomy but blood urea and plasma sodium and potassium levels were not related with survival of dystocia affected animal.
Survival rate was lower in caesarean operated buffaloes and in buffaloes with preemptive administration of meloxicam when compared with the cases handled by non-surgical methods or without meloxicam administration.