CLINICAL AND METABOLIC RESPONSE OF GOATS SUFFERING FROM IODOPENIA TO POTASSIUM-IODIDE APPLICATION

A clinical picture and dynamics of metabolic indicators were examined in 40 goats suffering from iodopenia; the examinations took place in t he course of potassium iodide application. Crystalline kalium iodatum was administered to all animals in barley greats at a dose of 0.5 g pe r animal/day within three weeks; then a three-week withdrawal followed and the treatment was repeated within the same time period. The thyro id gland consistency started to change at the end of the 3rd week of t reatment when the tough elastic to tough thyroid became the soft one. The goiter started to disappear gradually from the 8th week of experim ent and the physiological state of this organ was normal in most anima ls in the 11th week. Among the biochemical indicators, the most sensit ive response to treatment was recorded in iodine and thyroxine concent rations in blood serum since their significant increase in comparison with the values before potassium iodide application was obvious on day 14 of treatment (P < 0.01). Return of total lipids and cholesterol co ntent to the physiological limits occurred within two weeks while in g lucose it was in the 7th week of treatment. A significant increase in serum immunoglobulins was recorded from day 14 to the end of experimen t (P < 0.01). Among the minerals analyzed, positive responses in blood serum to potassium iodide intake were determined in the concentration s of calcium, phosphorus, copper and zinc. Application of potassium io dide to affected goats had positive effects on the dynamics of leukocy tes from the end of the 2nd week (P < 0.01), of erythrocytes from the 7th week (P < 0.01), of hemoglobin and hematocrit value at the end of experiment (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, resp.).