LEAD RESIDUES IN LOHI SHEEP: A HEMATO-BIOCHEMICAL AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY

Muhammad Younus, Muhammad Sajid, Aman Ullah Khan, Muhammad Asif Idrees and Iahtasham Khan

Department of Pathobiology, Pakistan College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Jhang, Pakistan
USA

Abstract

The lead is a major environmental pollutant which is bio-accumulated in different tissues of food animals. This study was accomplished to investigate tissue lead residues and its deleterious effects in Lohi sheep. The blood and tissue samples (n=360) were collected from Lohi sheep at abattoir during a period of 6 weeks and were analyzed by flame atomic absorption sepectrophotometry. Highest concentration of lead was found in kidneys followed in order by liver, serum and muscle tissue. All the tissues exhibited lead levels above the permissible limits of World Health Organization and European Union. The serum ALT, AST, ALP and urea were within normal range values. The RBC, TLC, PCV and Hb revealed statistical inverse correlation with lead concentration and values were below the normal range (P<0.05). None of the tissue samples of kidneys, liver and muscles demonstrated morphological and histopathological changes. It was concluded that Lohi sheep is quite resistant to the pathological effects of environmental lead exposure; however, higher tissue lead residues could pose serious risk to public health, hence, necessitating measures to minimize lead residues in edible tissues of Lohi sheep.

Keywords: Lead, hematology, tissues, Lohi sheep.