ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Response of Wumeng Semi-Fine Wool Sheep
to Copper-Contaminated Environment
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1
School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, China
2
State Engineering Technology Institute for Karst Desertification Control, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, China
3
World Bank Poverty Alleviation Project Office in Guizhou, Southwest China, Guiyang, China
Submission date: 2019-06-02
Final revision date: 2019-08-16
Acceptance date: 2019-08-21
Online publication date: 2020-02-14
Publication date: 2020-04-21
Corresponding author
Xiaoyun Shen
Southwest University of Science and Technology, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2020;29(4):2917-2924
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ABSTRACT
We evaluated the response of Wumeng semi-fine wool sheep to a copper-contaminated environment
and found an action plan to solve copper pollution through a grazing experiment and ammonium
molybdate supplementary experiment carried out in Weining County of Guizhou Province in China. The
content of heavy metal element in soil, herbage, and animal tissues was measured by atomic absorption
spectrometry, and the blood physiological and biochemical indicators were determined by animalspecific
automatic blood analyzer and automatic biochemical analyzer respectively. The results showed
that the copper content in soil and herbage of contaminated pasture was significantly higher than that
in control pasture, and the copper content in blood and liver in affected sheep was significantly higher
than that in the control group. Hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell count (RBC), hematocrit (PCV), mean
corpuscular volume (MCV) contents and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione
peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities in affected sheep were significantly lower than those in control, while
the activities of ceruloplasmin (CP), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), creatine phosphokinase
(CPK) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly higher. There was no significant difference in the
level of mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)
and white blood cell count (WBC) between the affected and control sheep. After supplementation of
ammonium molybdate, copper content in blood and liver decreased gradually, and the abnormal blood
indexes recovered. At the end of the ammonium molybdate supplementation experiment, Wumeng
semi-fine wool sheep in the drug-control group (CK group) showed hemoglobinuria, jaundice, anemia
and other symptoms. Conclusion: a copper-contaminated environment seriously affected mineral
metabolism and blood physiological and biochemical indicators of Wumeng semi-fine wool sheep, and
we can utilize the antagonism of molybdenum and copper in the diet to achieve the goal of harmless
utilization of a copper-polluted meadow.