Abstract
Objectives of the study were to measure water hardness in Burdur, and to establish its possible association with urolithiasis in cattle. Water samples were obtained from different stables (n = 15). Water hardness and the concentrations of potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, iron, zinc, manganese and copper ions were calculated from these water samples. Total hardness of the samples (mean 285 ppm) exceeded the standards and the water was characterized by high content of magnesium ions. Kidneys (n = 500) were collected randomly from slaughterhouses and examined for urolithiasis. Urolithiasis was observed in 102 kidneys (20.4%). The weights of the stones were between 0.02 and 237.44 g and the colour varied from white to brown. The calculi collected had various shapes and composed of calcium apatite (42.45%), struvite (20.15%), magnesium carbonate (15.15%), calcium carbonate (12.12%), and calcium phosphate cystine (10.13%). It was concluded that high water hardness with high magnesium ion concentrations in water may contribute to urolithiasis and needs to be investigated further in future studies.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alapont Perez, F.M., Galvez Calderon, J., Varea Herrero, J., Colome Bore, G., Olaso Oltra, A. and Sanchez Bisono, J.R., 2001. Epidemiology of urinary lithiasis. Actas Urologicas Espanolas, 25(5), 341–349
APHA; American Public Health Association, 1995. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 19th edn, (APHA, Washington, DC)
Anast, C.S., Winnacker, J.L., Forte, L.R. and Burns, T.W., 1976. Impaired release of parathyroid hormone in magnesium deficiency. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 42, 707–717
Bailey, C.B., 1981. Silica metabolism and silica urolithiasis in ruminant: a review. Candian Journal of Animal Science, 61(1), 219–235
Bellizi, V., De Incola, L., Minutolo, R., Russo, D., Cianciaruso, B. and Andreucci, M., 1999. Effects of water hardness on urinary risk factors for kidney stones in patients with idiopathic nephrolithiasis. Nephron, 81(1), 66–70
Bushman, D.H., Emerick, R.J. and Embry, L.B., 1965. Experimentally induced ovine phosphatic urolithiasis: relationships invoving dietary calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. Journal of Nutrition, 87, 499–504
Crookshank, H.R., Keating, F.E., Burnett, E., Jones, J.H. and Davis, R.E., 1960. The effect of chemical and enzymatic agents on the formation of urinary calculi in fattening steers. Journal of Animal Science, 19, 595–600
Crosetti, C.F., 1989. Dietary magnesium and urolithiasis in male dairy calves. Dissertation Abstracts International, 50, 85–86
Donato, F., Monarca, S., Premi, S. and Gelatti, U., 2003. Drinking water hardness and chronic degenerative diseases. Tumors, urolithiasis, fetal malformations, deterioration of the cognitive function in the aged and atopic eczema. Annali di Igiene, 15(1), 57–70
Gasthuys, F., Steenhaut, M., De Moor, A. and Sercu, K., 1993. Surgical treatment of urethral obstruction due to urolithiasis in male cattle: a review of 85 cases. Veterinary Research, 21, 522–526
Jubb, K.V.F., Kennedy, P.C. and Palmera, N., 1993. The urinary system. In: Pathology of Domestic Animals, (Academic Pres, San Diego), 526–530
Kallfelz, F.A., Ahmed, A.S., Wallace, B.H., Sasangka, A. and Warner, R.G., 1987. Dietary magnesium and urolithiasis in growing calves. Cornell Veterinarian, 77, 33–45
Kallfelz, F.A., Bresett, J.D. and Wallace, R.J., 1980. Urethral obstruction in random source and SPF male cats induced by high levels of dietary magnesium or magnesium and phosphorus. Feline Practice, 10, 25–35
Kohri, K., Ishinkawa, Y. and Iguchi, M., 1993. Relationship between the incidence of infection stones and the magnesium-calcium ratio of tap water. Urological Research, 21(4), 269–272
Larson, B.L., 1996. Identifying, treating, and preventing bovine urolithiasis. Veterinary Medicine, 91, 366–377
Mayer, G.P. and Hurst, J.G., 1978. Comparison of the effects of calcium and magnesium on parathyroid hormnone secretion rate in calves. Endocrinology, 102, 1803–1807
Medina-Escobedo, M., Zaidi, M., Real-de Leon, E. and Orozco-Rivadeneyra, S., 2002. Prevalence and risk factors of urinary lithiasis in Yucatan, Mexico. Salud Publica de Mexico, 44, 1–5
Payne, J.M., 1989. Metabolic and Nutritional Diseases of Cattle, (Blackwell, Oxford), 41–44
Radostits, O.M., Blood, D.C., Gay, C.C. and Hinchcliff, K.W., 2000. Veterinary Medicine: A Textbook of the Diseases of Cattle, Sheep, Pigs, Goats and Horses, (Baillière Tindall, London)
Shuster, J., Finlayson, B., Scheaffer, R., Sierakowski, R., Zoltek, J. and Dzegedes, S., 1982. Water hardness and urinary stone disease. Journal of Urology, 128, 422–425
Taton, G.F., Hamar, D.W. and Lewis, L.D., 1984. Urinary acidification in the prevention and treatment of feline struvite urolithiasis. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 184, 437–443
While, W.L., Erickson, M.M., Stevens, S.C. and Sieverd, C.E., 1976. In: Chemistry for the Clinical Laboratory, (C.V. Mosby Co., St Louis), 303–304
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sahinduran, S., Buyukoglu, T., Gulay, M.S. et al. Increased Water Hardness and Magnesium Levels May Increase Occurrence of Urolithiasis in Cows from the Burdur Region (Turkey). Vet Res Commun 31, 665–671 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-007-0058-8
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-007-0058-8