HYDROFLUOROSIS IN WATER-BUFFALO (BUBALUS-BUBALIS) IN INDIA

The concentration of fluoride was determined in water, forage and urin e and serum samples of buffaloes from the Unnao district of India. The water and forage samples contained 2.01 +/- 0.51 and 22.50 +/- 0.82 p pm of fluoride, respectively. The analysis of biosamples collected fro m the affected animals revealed higher levels of fluoride in serum (0. 58 +/- 0.05 ppm) and urine (10.64 +/- 1.23 ppm). Clinical examination identified a 40.34% prevalence rate of clinical lesions suggestive of fluorosis in buffalo of this locality. Dental lesions were present inv ariably in all affected animals whereas lameness, painful bony exostos is and emaciation were recorded in 28.17%, 8.45% and 76.00% of the ani mals. Based on the clinical lesions and fluoride content in water, ser um and urine, it was concluded that the problem of fluorosis in buffal o is attributable to drinking water containing toxic levels of fluorid e. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.