Evaluation of the Concentrations of Some Trace Elements (Fe, Cu, Se, Zn and Co) in Calves Naturally Infected With Coccidiosis

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine whether Fe, Cu, Zn, Se and Co levels changed in calves naturally infected with coccidiosis. The study was conducted on a total of 30 calves, 20 with coccidiosis and 10 healthy (control) calves of different races, sexes, and ages ranging from 26 to 78 days, with complaints of bloody diarrhea, weight loss and tenesmus. Serum Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, and Co concentrations of calves with coccidiosis were determined to be significantly lower than in the control group and this decrease was statistically significant (P<0.001). As for correlations between parameters of calves with coccidiosis and healthy ones determined as Pearson correlations for both groups, positive correlations were detected at the levels of 0.941, 0.951, 0.947 and 0.969 between Fe, Cu, Zn, Se and Co, respectively. Since significant decreases were detected in the serum Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, and Co concentrations of calves with coccidiosis, it is concluded that use of preparations containing trace elements may be beneficial in addition to the routine treatments in cases of coccidiosis or other diarrhea.