SERUM CONCENTRATIONS OF CALCIUM, PHOSPHORUS AND MAGNESIUM IN PREGNANT NILI-RAVI
BUFFALOES WITH OR WITHOUT VAGINAL PROLAPSE IN IRRIGATED AND RAIN FED AREAS OF
PUNJAB,
PAKISTAN
M. S. AKHTAR, L. A. LODHI,
I.
AHMAD, Z. I. QURESHI AND G. MUHAMMAD1
Department of Theriogenology, University
of Agriculture,
Faisalabad;1Department
of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University
of Agriculture,
Faisalabad,
Pakistan
Abstract
The
present study was planned to determine the macro-mineral status (calcium,
phosphorus and magnesium) in riverine buffaloes suffering with prepartum vaginal
prolapse (n=100) in comparison with control (n=100) buffaloes kept in irrigated
and rain fed (Barani) agro-ecological zones of
Punjab,
Pakistan.
Serum macro-mineral status was determined by spectrophotometer using
commercially available kits. Mean serum calcium and phosphorus levels were lower
in buffaloes suffering with prepartum vaginal prolapse compared with their
healthy counterparts (P<0.01), while reverse was true for serum magnesium
concentration. Mean serum calcium was significantly higher (P<0.01) and
phosphorus was non-significantly lower in control and vaginal prolapse affected
buffaloes kept in irrigated zone compared to their counterparts in rain fed
zone. However, magnesium concentration was non-significantly higher in control
buffaloes and significantly lower in vaginal prolapse affected buffaloes
belonging to irrigated zone compared to their counterparts in rain fed zone. It
may be inferred that deficiency of calcium and phosphorus and higher levels of
magnesium may possibly be the contributing factors in causing prepartum vaginal
prolapse in buffaloes. The levels of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium were, at
least partially, zone dependent.