Copper and selenium: Auxiliary measure to control infection by Haemonchus contortus in lambs

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of selenium and copper on oxidative stress and its performance in lambs experimentally infected with Haemonchus contortus. Twenty-eight five-months old lambs were experimentally infected by the oral route with 5000 third-stage infective larvae and allocated into four groups, i.e., untreated animals, animals treated intramuscularly with sodium selenite (0.2 mg kg(-1)), animals treated subcutaneously with copper (3.5 mg kg(-1)), and animals treated with sodium selenite (IM; 0.2 mg kg(-1)) and copper (SC; 3.5 mg kg(-1)). These animals received oat hay (Avena sativa) and commercial concentrate, totaling 15% of crude protein, 30% being derived from oat hay and 70% of the concentrate. Lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes, eggs per gram of feces (EPG) and body weight were assessed on the day of infection and after 20, 40, 60 and 80 days post-infection. The number of H. contortus adults was assessed at the end of the experiment. The selenium associated or not with copper reduced the effects of oxidative stress caused by infection. The groups supplemented with copper had increased body weight, and the combination of these two minerals reduced the EPG and number of H. contortus adults in lambs. The use of selenium associated with copper may help the control of infection by H. contortus.

Oxidative stress by Haemonchus contortus in lambs: Influence of treatment with zinc edetate

“…The OSI values of Group IV were lower than those of Group III, demonstrating that zinc enhanced the antioxidant action of the organism. Similarly of study reported for Leal et al (2014) that reduction of lipid peroxidation in sheep infected by H. contortus and treated of copper and selenium.…”

“…Previous studies have demonstrated that selenium, with or without copper, can reduce the oxidative stress caused by H. contortus infection (Leal et al, 2014). However, until now, there are no reports that describe the effects of zinc edetate on sheep infected by H. contortus.…”

“…In studies with other minerals, the parenteral use of copper (subcutaneously) associated with selenium (intramuscularly) reduced the quantity of adult H. contortus in lambs (Leal et al, 2014).…”

Effects of Medicinal Plants and Organic Selenium against Ovine Haemonchosis

“…Our results also indicated that lambs in the control and Herbmix groups infected with H. contortus could have Se deficiency, which would decrease GPx activity relative to the Selplex group, thereby probably also increasing the vulnerability of cells to the harmful actions of reactive oxygen species [ 53 ]. Se can reduce the effects of oxidative stress caused by infection with H. contortus and can also reduce EPG and the number of adult parasites in association with another trace element, copper [ 14 ]. This activity of Se was apparent throughout our experiment on EPGs and the reduction in worm burdens after necropsy.…”

“…The production of reactive oxygen species by host phagocytes (macrophages, eosinophils, and neutrophils) plays an important role in the ability of hosts to expel GIN parasites [ 13 ]. These reactive oxygen species cause immunosuppression by intensive oxidative processes [ 14 ]. These processes, however, can be neutralized by an antioxidant defensive system represented by enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and by nonenzymatic antioxidants such as vitamins A, C, and E [ 15 ].…”