Oxidative stress and histopathological alternations in sheep as a result of drinking saline water under the arid conditions of Southern Sinai, Egypt

Abstract EN

-Water is an essential nutrient so it is important for animals to have an adequate supply of good quality water to maintain satisfactory production.

This experiment was carried out to study the effect of drinking varying degrees of natural saline well-water on oxidative stress and histopathological alternations of heart and lung indices of experimental sheep groups in the studying area under the arid conditions of southern Sinai.

Thirty Barki sheep were divided into three groups based on the type of drinking water for nine months: the tap water (TW) group, the moderate saline water (MSW) group and the high saline water (HSW) group.

Data revealed that, sheep which drinking well water (~5000ppm&~10000ppm) induced in serum samples significant increase of oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO)) & cortisol and decrease in the values of antioxidants parameters, superoxide dismutase (SOD), total glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) compared to sheep drinking tap water.

Histopathological examination of lung showed catarrhal bronchitis and bronchiolitis, hyperplasia of epithelial lining and goblet cells hyperactivation with clear peri bronchial lymphocytic aggregation and edema.

Fibrosis, as well as purulent and hemorrhagic pneumonia, interstitial pneumonia and abscess formation.

On the other hand, heart revealed significant changes in both MSW and HSW groups such as zenker necrosis of muscles, faint granulation of cytoplasm, slight to moderate degree of hemorrhage and severe edema and infiltration of inflammatory cells.

In conclusion, water salinity negatively affects oxidative stress and heart & lung appearance of sheep.