Comparative study of efficacy of peripartum injection of multivitamins and selenium (ά-tocopherol)-vitamin E combination on post-partum clinical findings, serum steroids, calf and placental weights and milk antioxidant biomarkers changes in female dromedary camel

Abstract

Background: All concentrates given to camels were enriched in selenium (Se) mainly under selenite forms, but the impact on Se status especially on lactating female as well as the Se/antioxidant status of the she-camels milk needed further analysis. Aim: The current study aimed to compare between the efficacy of long-term prepartum injection of Se-vitamin E combination and that of multivitamins and their effects on post-calving clinical findings, serum steroid hormones, milk antioxidant indicators and milk somatic cell count (SCC) status, calf body weight and placental weight as well as vaginal wash isolates. Methods: The study was conducted on 3 groups of recently calved she-camels (n=45) from which two groups were previously subjected to 2 different long-term prepartum therapeutic regimens continued for 3 months, hence, the other group did not receive any treatment and was kept as a control one i.e. control lactating she-camels group (Cont-Lgr; n=15). A group received combination of vitamin E (ά-tocopherol) and Se and named vitamin E and Se treated lactating she-camels group (VitE^Se-Lgr; n=15). The last one received multivitamins and called multivitamins treated lactating she-camels group (Multi-Lgr; n=15). They were subjected to clinical and laboratory assays including milk antioxidant biomarkers [Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), Se and vitamin E] and milk SCC at days 14, 21 and 28 post-calving as well as steroids hormones and calf and placental weight were estimated at calving time (Day 0). Results and Conclusion: The study reported higher efficacy of Se-vitamin E combination comparing with that of multivitamins as a long-term prepartum injection in recently calved she-camels that was reflected through significant changes in steroids hormones i.e. progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2), the milk antioxidant biomarkers and SCCs. Both two therapeutic regimens had more powerful effect than that the control one. The applied therapeutic supplements had no significant effect on clinical and haematological changes as well as calves’ body weights and placental weights. Body weights were significantly higher in male camel calves than those of female calves either in Cont-Lgr, VitE^Se-Lgr or Multi-Lgr.