Psoroptic mange infestation increases oxidative stress and decreases antioxidant status in sheep

The present study was aimed to examine the status of nutritional and enzymatic antioxidants and oxidative stress indices in blood, skin and brain tissues of sheep with Psoroptic mange. Seventy-five sheep were divided into three equal groups, healthy control (group I, n = 25), sub-clinical Psoroptic mange (group II, n = 25) and clinical Psoroptic mange (group III, n = 25). Lipid peroxides (LPO), zinc, copper, alpha-tocopherol, ascorbic acid and ceruloplasmin concentrations in blood; status of LPO, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-s-transferase (GST) in skin and LPO, SOD, CAT, copper and zinc in brain of sheep were measured. Ascorbic acid, zinc, copper alpha-tocopherol and ceruloplasmin concentrations in blood were significantly decreased in Psoroptic mange in comparison to control. In the skin, CAT, SOD and GST were significantly lowered, whereas LPO was increased in sheep with Psoroptic mange. In the brain, LPO was increased significantly and CAT, SOD activities and copper and zinc concentrations were significantly lower. From the present study, it may be concluded that Psoroptic mange infestation increases oxidative stress and decreases antioxidant status in sheep. (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier B.V.