EFFECTS OF THE PHYSIOLOGICAL STATUS AND SELENIUM AND VITAMIN E INJECTION DURING TRANSITION PERIOD ON SERUMPROTEINS PARAMETERSIN CAMELS (CAMELUS DROMEDARIUS) REARED UNDER SEMI- INTENSIVE SYSTEM

Abstract

The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of the physiological status and selenium (Se) and vitamin E (Vit. E) injection during the transition period (late pregnancy, at parturition and postpartum) on serum proteins parameters (total proteins, albumin, globulins and A/G ratio) in camels (Camelusdromedarius) reared under semi-intensive system. Twenty clinically healthy time-mated pregnant females of three local breed: Arabi, Kenani and Deali (age 7-11year, number of parities: 2-3) were used. The animals were divided into 2 equal groups (10 each), as control and treated group. The treated group was injected intramuscularly with 10 ml of a combination of Se + Vit. E (0.6 mg/ml of sodium selenite and 80 mg/ml of vitamin E acetate, LABORATORIOS CALIER, Spain) three times: one month before parturition, at parturition and one month postpartum. Jugularvenousblood samples were collected at the same time of the injection for the determination of serum total proteins and albumin and for the calculation of serum globulins concentration. During late pregnancy, serum total proteins correlated positively (P<0.05) to serum globulins of the control group.At parturition, serum total proteins correlated positively (P≤0.05) to serum albumin and globulins of both control and injected groups and to serum globulins of injected group only during the postpartum period (P<0.01). Intramuscular injection of Se + Vit. E during the transition period caused a significant (P˂0.05) increase in serum total proteins, albumin, globulins and A/G ratio. It was concluded that serum proteins parameters were influenced by the transition period.Intramuscular injection of Se + Vit. E during the transition period enhanced the intracellular antioxidant status, which reflected positively on the metabolic activity of female camels. The data can be utilized to improve health and productivity of female camels during the critical transition period that associated with physiological oxidative stress.