title: Effect of ascorbic acid administration on erythrocyte osmotic fragility of pigs transported by road during the hot-dry season.
abstract: The experiments were performed in order to determine the effect of 8-h road transportation of pigs on erythrocytes osmotic fragility during the hot-dry season, and the ameliorative role of ascorbic acid. Twenty-three adult pigs comprising of both sexes served as subjects for the study. Thirteen pigs administered ascorbic acid (AA) per os 30 min before transportation, at a dose rate of 100 mg/kg served as experimental animals, while ten pigs administered with distilled water per os served as control, and were transported for 8 h during the hot-dry season. EDTA blood samples collected a day before (pre-transportation), immediately after 8-h transportation and 7 days post-transportation were used to determine erythrocyte osmotic fragility. The ambient temperature (AT) and relative humidity (RH) measured within the vehicle ranged between 30.5-39.0 °C and 40.0-71.0% respectively. These values were outside the thermoneutral zone for the pig, indicating that the season was thermally stressful. Results obtained showed a significant difference (p<0.05) in percent haemolysis recorded at NaCl concentrations of 0.4% and 0.6% immediately after transportation in experimental pigs and at 0.5, 0.6, 0.8 and 0.9% NaCl concentrations in experimental pigs 7 days post-transportation. In conclusion, result from the present study indicated that 8-h road transportation during the hot-dry season could induce stress resulting in haemolysis of erythrocytes and AA administration ameliorated the stress.
authors.affiliation: National Veterinary Research Institute, P. M. B. 01, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria. ofcasala@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Olayinka O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Asala
authors.forename: Joseph O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Ayo
authors.forename: Peter I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Rekwot
authors.forename: Ndazo S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Minka
authors.forename: David O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Omoniwa
authors.forename: Adeshina Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Adenkola
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006813:Humidity; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria; D009996:Osmotic Fragility / Q000187:drug effects*; D012621:Seasons; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D014186:Transportation; D014329:Tropical Climate
chemical_list: D001205:Ascorbic Acid