Effect of Sweet Orange Fruit Waste Diets and Acidifier on Haematology and Serum Chemistry of Weanling Rabbits

Abstract

A total of thirty-five mixed breed (35) rabbits of average weight of 700 g aged 5-6 weeks were allocated to seven treatments in a completely randomised design to investigate the effect of sweet orange fruit waste (SOFW) and acidomix acidifier on haematology and serum chemistry. The diets were 0% SOFW, 10% SOFW with 0.5% acidomix, 10% SOFW with 0.7 acidomix, 15% SOFW with 0.5% acidifier, 15% SOFW with 0.7% acidifier, 20% SOFW with 0.5% acidifier, and 20% SOFW with 0.7% acidifier. Blood samples were analyzed for haemoglobin (hb) concentration, white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC), differential WBC count (lymphocyte, basophil, eosinophil, monocyte, and neutrophil), alanine amino transferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate amino transferase (AST), total protein, albumin, and globulin. There was no interaction between SOFW and acidifier for the haematological and most of the serum chemistry parameters but significant difference was observed in ALT; however the values were within the normal range. SOFW had no significant effect on all haematological and serum chemistry parameters. Acidomix had significant effect (P < 0.05) on haemoglobin concentration; rabbits fed 0.5% acidomix diets had higher values which were within the normal range. It is therefore concluded that SOFW with acidifier up to 20% had no detrimental effect on serum chemistry and haematology.

Unraveling the Potential of Orange Pulp for Improving Laying Rate, Egg Quality, Oxidative Stability, Fatty Acids Composition, and Reproductive Tract Morphology of Laying Hens

“…In this study, serum total proteins, albumin, and globulin were significantly increased in the DOP-fed hens, which implied a better health status of laying hens in the DOP groups. Higher plasma albumin content and the albumin to globulin ratio were recorded in the dried citrus pulp-fed rabbits [57,58], revealing the same trend in the current trial.…”

Cross-Species Transmission of Swine Hepatitis E Virus Genotype 3 to Rabbits

“…Elevated hepatic enzymes indicate inflammation and damage to liver tissues. It is known that the normal physiological ranges of ALT and AST are 55-260 U/L and 10-98 U/L in rabbits, respectively [40]. In this study, liver enzymes ALT and AST were not significantly elevated in rabbits infected with swine HEV-3 or rabbit HEV until 8 wpi.…”

Effect of dietary inclusion of dried citrus pulp on growth performance, carcass characteristics, blood metabolites and hepatic antioxidant status of rabbits

“…When evaluating the health status scores of cows during calving, Akbar et al (2015) found that cows with high and medium scores showed high levels of ALB in serum. Daudu et al (2013) reported high serum ALB levels in DCP-fed rabbits. Plasma proteins are part of the immune response, in which antibodies are made of ALB.…”