Nitrate Detoxification of drinking water by ascorbic acid in growing rabbits.

Abstract

This work was carried out to study the capacity of ascorbic acid for detoxification of drinking water nitrate in growing New Zealand White rabbits. Forty growing female rabbits were assigned to five groups (8 rabbits/group). The control animals (group 1) drank tap water without nitrate addition, those of group 2 drank water with 729 mg/l nitrate, while rabbits of groups 3, 4 and 5 drank water with the same nitrate level plus 100, 200 and 400 mg/l ascorbic acid respectively for seven weeks. The nitrate caused a significant (P<0.05) decrease in rabbit performance (feed and water intake, digestibility of nutrients and growth rate). Haemoglobin concentration, red blood cells count, total protein, albumin and globulin concentrations of animals drinking water with added nitrate decreased significantly (P<0.05) but aspertate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities, blood urea and cholesterol concentrations increased significantly (P<0.05). Daily weight gain decreased significantly (P<0.05) in 5th, 6th and 7th weeks in rabbits treated with nitrate. The rabbits treated with nitrate had a significant (P<0.05) worsening of feed conversion efficiency during the last three weeks of the treatment. The addition of ascorbic acid at three different levels (100, 200 and 400 mg/l) caused significant (P<0.05) increase in rabbit performance and led to an improvement of the measured blood parameters. In general, the results indicated that the highest level of improvement was obtained by adding ascorbic acid at the rate of 200 mg/l. The study also showed that 729 mg/l nitrate in drinking water had a toxic effect on rabbits. Ascorbic acid supplementation, especially at a level of 200 mg/l, was efficient and can be considered as a practical solution for nitrate detoxification of drinking water in growing rabbits.

The detoxication of nitrate by two antioxidants or a probiotic, and the effects on blood and seminal plasma profiles and reproductive function of New Zealand White rabbit bucks

“…The use of high levels of nitrate on rabbit performance was investigated by Gilman et al (1998); Bassuny et al (2004); Shehata (2005); and Djekoun-Bensoltane et al (2007). They showed that nitrate concentration at 600 to 700 ppm had a deleterious effect on rabbits' performance, but no attention was given to semen quality and litter traits.…”

“…They showed that nitrate concentration at 600 to 700 ppm had a deleterious effect on rabbits' performance, but no attention was given to semen quality and litter traits. The adverse effect of nitrate was obvious with increasing nitrate intake in animals and humans (Shehata, 2005;DjekounBensoltane et al, 2007;Hord et al, 2009). Nitrate pollution -E-mail: attia0103753095@gmail.com could be increased because of agro-industry (Wahaab and Badawy, 2004;Burow et al, 2010).…”

“…Ingestion of high concentrations of nitrates (NO 3 ) builds up nitrite (NO 2 ) concentrations and the nitrite is absorbed into the animal's bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream, nitrites bind with hemoglobin (Hgb), creating methemoglobin and preventing the normal transfer of oxygen (Shehata, 2005). Depending on the amounts consumed, symptoms of nitrate poisoning may be hardly noticeable in ruminant animals whose gut microbial populations are able to convert nitrites to ammonia and ultimately to amino acids and proteins (Atef et al, 1991;Bassuny et al, 2004).…”

“…Symptoms include bluish color of mucous membranes, rapid and difficult breathing, a rapid pulse (.150 beats/min), tremors, staggering, collapse and death (Bassuny et al, 2004). In addition, nitrites react with secondary amines in food to form nitrosamines, many of which are carcinogenic in experimental animals and exert other toxic effects (Shehata, 2005).…”

“…In the literature, an adverse effect of nitrate in animal performance was observed at 600 to 700 ppm. In the literature, the efficacy of Vit C on detoxication of nitrate and mercury was reported (Bassuny et al, 2004;Shehata, 2005;Yasmina and Abdennour, 2008). In addition, Umar et al (2010) demonstrated the antioxidant effect of Vit E and C. The basis for using the probiotic is to determine its ability to convert nitrite to ammonia and ultimately to amino acids and proteins (Atef et al, 1991;Robson, 2007;Martarelli et al, 2011).…”