Combined efficacy of ascorbic acid and methylene blue in experimental methaemoglobinaemia in buffalo calves with sub-clinical hepatitis

อังกฤษ

ASCORBIC ACID;HEPATITIS;BUFFALO CALVES;METHAEMOGLOBINAEMIA

In five male buffalo calves with sub-clinical hepatitis, methaemoglobinaemia was induced by intraruminal administration of sodium nitrite (BDH) 100 mg/kg b.wt. After 1 hr. Ascorbic acid 15 mg/kg b.wt. and methylene blue 5 mg/kg b.wt. (1 percent aqueous solution) along with 500 ml dextrose (5 percent) were infused. The eficacy was judged based on clinical and blood biochemical response. Marked improvement was noted in clinical signs like tachycardia, polyurea, lacrimation and inappetence within 4 hr of treatment. The methaemoglobin percet dropped dramatically by 4 hr. The haemoglohin/methaemoglobin ratio, blood glucose and serum sodium regained their normal levels and plasma became nitrite free by 8 hr. The Glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) level normalised by 48 hr while the Bromsulphalein (BSP) T1/2 remained high even up to 72 hr. No marked change could be noted in Glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) level. Heavy application of nitroge-rich fertilizers, weedicides and pesticides condition the cereal as well as fodder plants to accumulate excess nitrate in them. And on ingestion of such plants, ruminants suffer from nitrate/nitrite toxicosis. Ascorbic acid has been found to be effective in the management of experimental nitrite intoxication in buffalo calves (Prasad et al., 1984). However, the rate of reduction of methaemoglobin was slow as compared to methylene blue (Ziv et al., 1982). The action of methylene blue depends on the availability of a set of enzymes (Jones et al., 1977) and dosage above 10 mg/kg b.wt. forms additional methaemoglobin in calves (Dua & Prasad, 1985). In the present study, the rate of reduction of methaemoglobin jointly by ascorbic acid and methylene blue has been judged on the basis of clinicohaemochemical improvements in buffalo calves.

[1] Prasad, B. (Punjab Agricutural Univesity, Ludhiana-141004 (India). Department of Veterinary Medicine)
[2] Misra, S.K. (Verterinary Medicine, B.C.K.V., West Bengal (Inida))
[3] Choudhuri, P.C. (Verterinary Medicine, A.P.A.U., Trirupati (India))