Oxidative Stress and Imbalance of Mineral Metabolism Contributes to Clinico-pathobiology of Pediculosis in Dairy Buffaloes

The present study was aimed to evaluate the mineral metabolism and oxidative patho-biology of lice infestation in buffaloes. Forty-eight buffaloes were divided into four groups; Sucking lice (Hematopinus tuberculatus) infested-mild (Group 1, n=12), moderate (Group 2, n=12), severe (Group 3, n=12) and healthy control (Group 4, n=12). Lice infested animals (Group 1, 2 and 3) animals were treated with a single dose ivermectin subcutaneously at 200 µg/kg body weight and healthy control group were treated with 7 mL of distilled water subcutaneously as placebo therapy. To assess the pathological changes, mineral profile (Iron, Zinc, Copper and Manganese), oxidative stress markers (lipid peroxidation-LPO, reduced glutathione-GSH, superoxide dismutase-SOD, Catalase-CAT and total antioxidant capacity-TAC), Mast cell activity (Histamine, Carboxypeptidase A activity, and Chymase activity), endocrine profile (Cortisol, Total thyroxine-TT4, Total riiodothyronine-TT3, and free triiodothyronine-FT3) and haematological status were evaluated. Significant iron deficiency anemia, lymphocytopenia, neutrophilia, eosinophilia was observed in bubaline pediculosis according to the level of severity of infestation. Remarkably increased oxidative stress and mineral imbalance were observed in sucking lice infested buffaloes. Increased mast cell activity was observed in relation to severity of lice infestation. From the present study, it may be concluded that sucking lice infestation produces significant oxidative stress, mineral imbalance and inflammatory responses in dairy buffaloes. Mast cell may modulate host inflammation via mineralo-oxidative mechanism in sucking lice infestation in buffaloes.