Abstract
BACKGROUND: A number of elements are essential for the body, including zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), vitamin A, and vitamin E. Nutritional deficiency diseases (ND diseases) are ailments that reduce the amount of animals produced, restrict commerce, and can result in severe economic losses. Mineral deficiencies, whether primary or secondary, create significant obstacles in livestock production because they are associated with decreased productivity, reproductive issues, and various health complications. AIM: This study aimed to determine the levels of Zn, Cu, and vitamin A, as well as the clinical signs, hematological, biochemical, and antioxidant changes that may occur due to the nutritional deficiencies of such trace elements and vitamin A in sheep. METHODS: Several blood parameters were measured in normal or nutritionally deficient sheep. Such parameters included hematological levels, glucose, total protein, albumin, globulin, and oxidative stress GSH-Px, SOD, and CAT. This study was conducted on 100 sheep (male and female). Eighty sheep suffered from Zn, Cu, and vitamin A deficiency, and 20 were clinically healthy and served as the control group. RESULTS: The diseased animals had the following clinical signs: depression, pica, pale mucous membrane, loss of hair around the eye, ear, and nose, erected wool, easily detached wool, depigmentation of the coat with apparent alopecia, decreased body weight gain with normal or decreased appetite. Some sheep were suffering from gait stiffness and parakeratosis with a marked increase in heart and respiratory rates, with normal body temperature. The obtained results showed significant decreases (p < 0.05) in Hb, PCV, RBCs, and WBCs in addition to significant decreases (p < 0.05) in glucose and total protein. Significant decreases in the levels of antioxidant enzymes (GSH-Px, CAT, and SOD) were also recorded. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that nutritional deficiencies of the trace elements Zn, Cu, and vitamin A make sheep liable to several skin disorders. Therefore, dietary supplementation of such macro and micro-elements is highly recommended to avoid such adverse effects.