Erythrocyte lipid peroxides and blood zinc and copper concentrations in acute undifferentiated diarrhoea in calves.

Undifferentiated acute calf diarrhoea is a major concern for the dairy industry and its aetiopathogenesis remains diverse. The present study aimed to examine the role of oxidative stress through estimation of erythrocyte lipid peroxide levels and blood zinc and copper concentrations using natural cases of diarrhoea in calves aged 15-30 days old. The calves were kept under identical managemental conditions and were provided with pooled whole colostrum during the first three days and thereafter with only whole milk until they were 1 month old. Diarrhoeic (n = 11) and normal calves (n = 11) of the same age group (15-30 days old) were randomly selected from an organized dairy farm for the study. The mean blood zinc concentration (50.01+/-2.45 mumol/L vs 66.06+/-3.06 mumol/L) was significantly (p < 0.05) lower and copper concentration was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in diarrhoeic calves (12.90+/-0.31 mumol/L vs. 9.44+/-0.16 mumol/L) than in the healthy calves. The erythrocyte lipid peroxides level was higher (p < 0.05) in diarrhoeic calves (6.88+/-0.23 nmol malondialdehyde (MDA) per mg of haemoglobin (Hb)) than healthy calves (6.27+/-0.07 nmol MDA per mg Hb). From the results of the study it is concluded that oxidative stress and antioxidant minerals (zinc and copper) might play important roles in the aetiopathogenesis of bovine calf diarrhoea.