THE EFFECT OF SINGLE NICKEL AND COMBINED NICKEL AND ZINC PERORAL ADMINISTRATION ON HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN RABBITS

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of single nickel (NiCl2) and nickel in combination with zinc (ZnCl2) on selected haematological parameters of rabbits: white blood cell, red blood cell, haemoglobin, haematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, platelets, mean platelet volume, red cell distribution width, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, neutrophils, basophils. Twenty rabbits of broiler line Californian were used in this experiment. The animals were divided into the five groups, four animals in each ones (control group K and experimental groups E1, E2, E3 and E4). Animals were fed ad libitum using KKV1 feeding mixture (FM) with or without nickel and zinc addition for 90 days follows: group E1 received 17.5 g of NiCl2.100 kg-1 FM; group E2 35 g NiCl2.100 kg-1 FM; group E3 17.5 g NiCl2 + 30 g ZnCl2.100 kg-1 FM and group E4 35 g NiCl2 + 30 g ZnCl2.100 kg-1 FM. The parameters were analysed using Advia – 120. Blood was collected into tubes containing anticoagulant agents K – EDTA. Statistical analyse showed a significant changes (P < 0.05) in haemoglobin, haematocrit and percentage of eozinophils. Decrease of all of this parameter was detected in group E2. The significant increase (P < 0.05) of haemoglobin and haematocrit was detected in group E4 in comparison with the group E2. Other haematological parameters were without significant differences (P > 0.05). Nickel has negative effect on some haematological parameters, but zinc can eliminates its influence.