Effect of inorganic and organic zinc supplementation on coccidial infections in goat kids

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify the effect of zinc-enriched diet fed to goats and their kids on the number of Coccidia oocysts shed by kids, on clinical signs of coccidiosis, weight gains, and kids' blood plasma concentration of zinc. A total of 22 goat kids were divided into 4 groups of 5 or 6 animals. Goats and kids from the control group did not receive any additional zinc, the second group was supplemented with inorganic zinc (zinc oxide), the third group was given zinc lactate, and the fourth group received chelated zinc. Samples of kids' faeces were taken weekly from 3 to 9 weeks of their age (a total of 7 samples were taken). Samples of faeces were examined by a quantitative method to detect the number of oocysts. Kids were weighed weekly and their blood was taken in order to determine zinc concentrations in blood plasma. Animals from the group supplemented with zinc chelate and zinc lactate shed a significantly (p ≤ 0.05) lower number of oocysts (13.4% and 11.9%, respectively) compared to the number of oocyst shed by control and zinc oxide supplemented groups (25% and 49.7%, respectively). Shedding of oocysts was not accompanied by clinical symptoms of coccidiosis in any of the groups. Kids supplemented with zinc chelate showed significantly highest weight gains and blood plasma concentration of zinc (p ≤ 0.05) as compared to control and inorganic zinc supplemented groups. Organic zinc is to be recommended to be used as a prophylaxis against coccidiosis in goat kids. Eimeria, coccidiosis, weight gain, zinc chelate, zinc lactate, zinc oxideInfections caused by Eimeria coccidia belong to the most significant protozoal infections. In goat kids, six specific Eimeria species were detected, namely E. arloingi, E. ninakohlyakimovae, E. christenseni, E. hirci, E. caprina and E. alievi. Their prevalence is considered to be global. In Spain, coccidiosis affects 96.1% goat kids fed milk (Ruiz et al. 2006). In northern Jordan, coccidiosis occurs in 85% local goats and 54% of them show concurrent infection with multiple Eimeria species. Incidence of concurrent infection was significantly higher in kids (66%) than in animals over 1 year of age (49%) (Mahmoud and Hossan 2003). Prevalence of coccidia in the U.S.A. was 100% (n = 318); in Australia, coccidia were detected in 97% kids out of 497 (Reeg et al. 2005). In the Czech Republic, Strnadová et al. (2008) found coccidia in 54% kids less than 4 months old.The course of clinical coccidiosis in goat kids can be acute, subacute, chronic or latent. The first symptoms of acute coccidiosis include raised temperature, watery diarrhea containing blood and particles of intestinal mucosa, mucosal anaemia, conjunctivitis and rhinitis. Mahmoud and Hossan (2003) reported up to 58% mortality of kids. Animals from 1 to 3 months of age are most susceptible and they shed oocysts most intensively between 5 and 8 weeks of age (Reeg et al. 2005). The course of infection is affected by the number of oocysts being shed. Coccidiosis is considered to be clinical when more tha...

Influence of organic or inorganic forms of salts rich in phosphorus, copper and zinc on reproduction, productivity and blood constituents in sheep

“…These findings are in agreement with previous reports in different animal species, in sheep (Senosy et al, 2018;Abdelrahman et al, 2017 andJalilian et al, 2012), in goats (Pechova et al, 2009), in kids goats (Strnadová et al, 2011;Palenikova et al, 2014), in dairy cows (Kinal et al, 2007). Increasing of serum concentration of phosphorus and copper are due to supplementation of microelements with the bioavailability of microorganisms in rumen led to better transfer of trace elements to the tissues, including blood (Spears, 1996;Olson et al, 1999;Huert et al, 2002).…”

“…Average body weight of kids born to goat dams fed (30 mg Cu/ kg DM) inorganic or organic forms were higher (Palenikova et al, 2014;Solaiman et al, 2007). Moreover, kids supplemented (60 mg Zn/ kg DM) organic or inorganic forms with diets showed significantly higher average daily gain compared with control (Strnadová et al, 2011). While growth performance of (Dorper × Mongolia) lambs fed (10 or 20 mg Cu/kg DM) to the basal diet did not differ (Cheng et al, 2008).…”

“…It has been documented that, newborn of lambs is dependent upon their dams for transfer of these nutrients via the placenta and the mammary gland (Rock et al, 2001;Jalilian et al, 2012). Furthermore, the highest growth rate and waning weight of lambs during the first three months of life, are affected by many factors such as number of lambs born per ewe (Datta et al, 2007), improved of immunity to newly born from dams feeding with by P, Cu and Zn in organic or inorganic forms (Senosy et al, 2018;Strnadová et al, 2011). Supplementation of trace elements had a positive impact on quality milk or milk fat content (Antunovic et al, 2017;Kinal et al, 2007;Wiking et al, 2008;Pechova et al, 2009).…”

Impacts of dietary zinc concentrations on lamb feedlot performance1

“…In broilers, Bun et al (2011) reported no effects of dietary organic Zn levels on ADG or DMI. However, effects of organic and inorganic Zn sources on Eimeria infections in goat kids have shown reduced oocyst shedding in unsupplemented and Zn oxide supplemented kids compared with Zn chelate and Zn lactate supplemented kids ( Strnadová et al, 2011 ). Of 156 tested fecal samples in the present study, only 4.5% had total fecal oocyst counts less than 100 oocyst per gram (opg) and 11.5% of samples contained more than 10,000 opg, suggesting that coccidiosis spreads easily in an infected population of lambs and can pose a persistent problem.…”