Effect of zinc oxide nanoparticle supplementation on parasite infection and rumen environment of grazing lambs
Type
Journal article
Language
English
Date issued
2025
Author
Leško, Matej
Bombárová, Alexandra
Petrič, Daniel
Batťányi, Dominika
Komáromyová, Michaela
Königová, Alžbeta
Babják, Michal
Halada, Ľuboš
David, Stanislav
Sidoruk, Pola
Čobanová, Klaudia
Váradyová, Zora
Várady, Marián
Faculty
Wydział Medycyny Weterynaryjnej i Nauk o Zwierzętach
PBN discipline
veterinary science
Journal
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
ISSN
2297-1769
Volume
12
Pages from-to
art. 1684585
Abstract (EN)
This study investigated the effect of zinc nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) on the growth
parameters, parasitological status, ruminal fermentation, and histopathology of
lambs that were experimentally infected with Haemonchus contortus larvae.
The infected lambs were divided into two groups (n = 10/group) and grazed on
pasture while being fed one of two diets: a control diet consisting of 350 g/d of a
dietary concentrate (CONTROL), and a diet consisting of 350 g/d of concentrate
enriched with ZnO-NPs (ZINC). Pasture aboveground plant coverage and plant
taxa from phytosociological relevés were used as descriptors to investigate
differences in vegetation based on plant medicinal properties and the nutritional
value. Communities dominated by plants with medicinal properties were mainly
found in the CONTROL group's pasture, while the pasture of the ZINC group
contained most plants with outstanding nutritional value. The number of eggs
per gram of feces was quantified on days D14, D20, D28, D42, D56, D70, D84,
D98, and D107 post-infection. There was a significant decrease in egg shedding
from D42 onwards in the ZINC group, and from D56 and D70 onwards in the
CONTROL group. The ruminal concentration of ammonia nitrogen (p = 0.018),
n-butyrate (p = 0.025), n-valerate (p = 0.002), total protozoa count (p < 0.001),
and the enzymatic activities of α-amylase (p < 0.001) and xylanase (p = 0.006)
were significantly higher in the ZINC group than in the CONTROL group. The
molar proportion of acetate was lower (p = 0.011) in the ZINC group than in the
CONTROL group. Morphological observations of the rumen indicated that the
homogeneity of the ruminal papillae was slightly impaired, the lamina propria
was inflamed, or lymphocytes had infiltrated. In conclusion, the dynamics of
gastrointestinal nematode infection were significantly reduced, probably due
to the medicinal and nutritional properties of the pasture plants. This effect was
also enhanced by the supplementation with ZnO nanoparticles, which possess
strong anthelmintic potential
parameters, parasitological status, ruminal fermentation, and histopathology of
lambs that were experimentally infected with Haemonchus contortus larvae.
The infected lambs were divided into two groups (n = 10/group) and grazed on
pasture while being fed one of two diets: a control diet consisting of 350 g/d of a
dietary concentrate (CONTROL), and a diet consisting of 350 g/d of concentrate
enriched with ZnO-NPs (ZINC). Pasture aboveground plant coverage and plant
taxa from phytosociological relevés were used as descriptors to investigate
differences in vegetation based on plant medicinal properties and the nutritional
value. Communities dominated by plants with medicinal properties were mainly
found in the CONTROL group's pasture, while the pasture of the ZINC group
contained most plants with outstanding nutritional value. The number of eggs
per gram of feces was quantified on days D14, D20, D28, D42, D56, D70, D84,
D98, and D107 post-infection. There was a significant decrease in egg shedding
from D42 onwards in the ZINC group, and from D56 and D70 onwards in the
CONTROL group. The ruminal concentration of ammonia nitrogen (p = 0.018),
n-butyrate (p = 0.025), n-valerate (p = 0.002), total protozoa count (p < 0.001),
and the enzymatic activities of α-amylase (p < 0.001) and xylanase (p = 0.006)
were significantly higher in the ZINC group than in the CONTROL group. The
molar proportion of acetate was lower (p = 0.011) in the ZINC group than in the
CONTROL group. Morphological observations of the rumen indicated that the
homogeneity of the ruminal papillae was slightly impaired, the lamina propria
was inflamed, or lymphocytes had infiltrated. In conclusion, the dynamics of
gastrointestinal nematode infection were significantly reduced, probably due
to the medicinal and nutritional properties of the pasture plants. This effect was
also enhanced by the supplementation with ZnO nanoparticles, which possess
strong anthelmintic potential
License
CC-BY - Attribution
CC-BY - Attribution Open access date
October 30, 2025