Role of the wool analysis in diagnosis of some nutritional deficiency diseases [electronic resource].

Includes references.

This investigation was conducted on 40 ewes (2-5 years) of which 30 ewes showed different diseased conditions including alopecia, anorexia and diarrhoea. Sheep were reared among indoor flock of private farm of Dakahlia province. A study was carried out to detect the alterations in some trace elements levels which may be accompanied with diseased conditions in sheep by analysis of their serum and wool. The results were compared with those obtained from clinically healthy sheep. The study revealed that sheep suffered from diseased conditions (alopecia. anorexia and diarrhoea) showed highly significant decrease in the serum and wool zinc. copper, iron and manganese levels in comparison with clinically healthy ones. On the other hand, a highly significant increase was observed in serum and wool molybdenum level of these sheep. The diet analysis, showed low concentrations of zinc. copper. iron and manganese and high molybdenum concentration in comparison with normal concentration recorded by (NRC 2005). These findings indicated that the concentrations of trace elements in the wool of sheep gave a good indication for the diagnosis of its nutritional deficiency diseases.

Summary in Arabic.