Therapeutic management of copper deficiency in buffalo heifers: impact on immune function.

To evaluate the magnitude of copper deficiency in Northern India and to examine the various haematobiochemicals, enzymes, vitamins and immune functions affected by copper deficiency, and to identify the parameters which can be of diagnostic importance in copper deficiency, a survey was conducted in 12 districts of Northern India. Significant deficiency of copper was observed in soil, fodder and serum samples of buffalo heifers. Fifty hypocuperaemic buffalo heifers were selected from these areas and were randomly divided into two groups, A and B. The heifers in group A were provided with mineral mixture containing copper sulphate and in group B without copper sulphate. Significant (p<0.01) improvement in serum ceruloplasmin level was observed within 30 days of treatment, while significant (p<0.01) improvement in monoamine oxidase and liver cytochrome oxidase was observed at the 60th day of treatment in group A animals. Significant improvement was observed in T(3) and T(4), in the animals of group A within 60 days of treatment. The values of vitamin A and E showed significant (p<0.01) improvement within 30 days of treatment. The phagocytic activity of neutrophils against Candida albicans significantly (p<0.01) improved in group A within 60 days of treatment. Similarly, significant improvement in superoxide dismutase activity in red blood cells was observed at the 30th day, and in total leukocytes and whole blood at the 60th day in group A animals. Significant improvement in liver copper level was observed at the 30th day of treatment, while in group B the liver copper was significantly (p<0.01) depleted at the 60th day of experimentation. Additional copper supplementation improved growth performance significantly in group A.