REVUE DE MEDECINE VETERINAIRE, cilt.162, sa.7, ss.346-351, 2011 (SCI-Expanded)
In this study, the effects of the ammonium sulphate intoxication on the blood antioxidant /oxidant status were investigated in Sakiz crossbred lambs. For that, circulating blood urea nitrogen (BUN), nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), beta-carotene, retinol and ceruloplasmin concentrations were measured in 6 lambs accidentally poisoned with ammonium sulphate and in 6 healthy control lambs. Oral treatment with 10% glutamic acid (1g/kg), 2.5% acetic acid (2.5 mL/kg) and vitamin A (400 IU/kg) was daily administered to diseased animals for five days. Poisoned lambs exhibited neurological signs (sleepiness, ataxia, tonic and clonic spasms) coupled to a rumen atony and acceleration of heart and respiratory rates compared to healthy controls. Biochemically, the circulating MDA, NO and BUN concentrations were markedly increased and the GSH, beta-carotene and vitamin A concentrations were significantly depressed compared to healthy controls whereas the ceruloplasmin concentrations were not significantly altered. After treatment, clinical and biochemical signs were significantly alleviated but, however 2 lambs died. For them, the histopathological examinations after haematoxylin-eosin staining revealed cell degeneration in liver, lungs and kidney associated to mononuclear cell infiltrates and proliferation of Kiipffer cells. These results clearly showed the occurrence of an oxidative stress induced by ammonium sulphate poisoning leading to cell damage and proved the efficiency of a treatment based on organic acids and retinol supplementation.