Chronic arsenicosis in cattle: possible mitigation with Zn and Se

Supply of arsenic free water in the arsenic endemic zone of West Bengal since a long time could not prevent arsenicosis in human completely. So exploration of arsenic contamination at all levels of food chain may be important. The report on arsenicosis in cattle of arsenic affected zone is scarcely available. In the present study, cattle from villages of two arsenic endemic blocks (Chakdah and Haringhata) in Nadia district of West Bengal were selected. The cattle affected with arsenicosis were identified and isolated. They were divided into two groups: untreated control group and treated group-was treated with mixture of zinc oxide (10mg/kg) and sodium selenite (0.1mg/kg) orally once daily for 180 days. Milk, faeces and hair samples were collected at different time intervals from those cattle for analysis of arsenic. Drinking water and straw of those areas were also collected for analysis of arsenic. Serum ALT and AST were estimated in collected blood samples of the cattle. The untreated control group had shown gradual accumulation of total arsenic in hair while the treated group showed a non-significant but declined accumulation of arsenic in hair from 90th day onwards and a significant increase (p<0.05) in total arsenic in faeces from 90th day onwards. The arsenic load considerably but non-significantly decreased in milk from 60th day onwards in the treated group. Serum AST and ALT activities were also decreased in treated cattle. It is concluded that straw is also a major source of arsenic contamination in cattle apart from drinking water and arsenic may enter into human through consumption of contaminated milk. But zinc and selenium mixture may be used to reduce arsenic load in cattle.