Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Bioavailability of selenium (Se) in cattle population in Sri Lanka based on qualitative determination of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Environmental Geochemistry and Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Glutathione Peroxidase activity in whole blood is well correlated with the Selenium (Se) levels in cattle hence can be used effectively to assess the supply of Se to farm animals. In this study, Se status of cattle from five different geographic regions of Sri Lanka were assessed based on glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity. The GSH-Px activity was determined in whole blood samples collected from 80 cattle from 31 different farms in five districts viz. Kandy, Anuradhapura, Batticoloa, Trincomalee and Jaffna using photometric method. Mean GSH-Px activity was found to be 825, 1239, 1039, 849 and 1307 μkat L−1 in above districts, respectively while the reference value was considered as 665.4 μkat L−1. Among the studied animals, insufficient Se levels were detected in 50%, 17%, 9%, 27% and 5%, respectively, from above districts. Kruskal Wallis test indicated a significant variation among the sampled locations with respect to the GSH-Px activity (p = 0.001). Selenium content in pasture and water collected from studied locations varied from 6.0 to 554 μg kg−1 and < 0.03–1.14 μg L−1, respectively. The lower Se levels in feeds recorded from Kandy region infer the lower GSH-Px activity in the animals from the same region. This variability may be due to differences in nutrient supply, age and species of cattle, and lactation stage. Although the assessing method has some limitations, the activity of GSH-Px of the samples indirectly confirms that considerable numbers of cattle from Sri Lanka are with insufficient selenium levels.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arthur, J., Price, J., & Mills, C. (1979). Observations on the selenium status of cattle in the north-east of Scotland. The Veterinary Record,104, 340–341.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Behne, D., & Kyriakopoulos, A. (2001). Mammalian selenium-containing proteins. Annual Review of Nutrition,21, 453–473.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Behne, D., & Wolters, W. (1983). Distribution of selenium and glutathione peroxidase in the rat. The Journal of Nutrition,113, 456–461.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bowen, H. J. M. (1979). Environmental chemistry of the elements. London: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Counotte, G., & Hartmans, J. (1989). Relation between selenium content and glutathion-peroxidase activity in blood of cattle. Veterinary Quarterly,11, 155–160.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Department of Census and Statistics, Sri Lanka. (2018). https://www.statistics.gov.lk/agriculture/Livestock/LivestockPopulationSubnational.html. Accessed June 15, 2018.

  • Dissanayake, C. B., & Chandrajith, R. (2009). Introduction to medical geology-focus on tropical environment. Heidelberg: Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Gerloff, B. J. (1992). Effect of selenium supplementation on dairy cattle. Journal of Animal Science,70, 3934–3940.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gissel-Nielsen, G. (1998). Effects of selenium supplementation of field crops. In W. T. Frankenberger & R. A. Engberg (Eds.), Environmental chemistry of selenium (pp. 99–112). New York: Marcel Dekker.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harapin, I., Bauer, M., Bedrica, L., & Potočnjak, D. (2000). Correlation between glutathione peroxidase activity and the quantity of selenium in the whole blood of beef calves. Acta Veterinaria Brno,69, 87–92.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hartikainen, H. (2005). Biogeochemistry of selenium and its impact on food chain quality and human health. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology,18, 309–318.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hatfield, D. L., Tsuji, P. A., Carlson, B. A., & Gladyshev, V. N. (2014). Selenium and selenocysteine: Roles in cancer, health, and development. Trends in Biochemical Sciences,39, 112–120.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haygarth, P. M. (1994). Global importance and global cycling of selenium. In W. T. Frankenberger & R. A. Engberg (Eds.), Environmental chemistry of selenium (pp. 1–28). New York: Marcel Dekker.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herdt, T. H., & Hoff, B. (2011). The use of blood analysis to evaluate trace mineral status in ruminant livestock. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice,27, 255–283.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herdt, T. H., Rumbeiha, W., & Braselton, W. E. (2000). The use of blood analyses to evaluate mineral status in livestock. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice,16, 423–444.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hu, X., Wang, F., & Hanson, M. L. (2009). Selenium concentration, speciation and behavior in surface waters of the Canadian prairies. Science of the Total Environment,407, 5869–5876.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lenz, M., & Lens, P. N. (2009). The essential toxin: The changing perception of selenium in environmental sciences. Science of the Total Environment,407, 3620–3633.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Navarro-Alarcon, M., & Cabrera-Vique, C. (2008). Selenium in food and the human body: A review. Science of the Total Environment,400, 115–141.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Navarro-Alarcon, M., & López-Martınez, M. (2000). Essentiality of selenium in the human body: Relationship with different diseases. Science of the Total Environment,249, 347–371.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nève, J. (2000). New approaches to assess selenium status and requirement. Nutrition Reviews,58, 363–369.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orjales, I., Herrero-Latorre, C., Miranda, M., Rey-Crespo, F., Rodríguez-Bermúdez, R., & López-Alonso, M. (2018). Evaluation of trace element status of organic dairy cattle. Animal,12(6), 1296–1305. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1751731117002890.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ortman, K., & Pehrson, B. (1999). Effect of selenate as a feed supplement to dairy cows in comparison to selenite and selenium yeast. Journal of Animal Science,77, 3365–3370.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Paglia, D. E., & Valentine, W. N. (1967). Studies on the quantitative and qualitative characterization of erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase. The Journal of laboratory and clinical medicine,70, 158–169.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pavlata, L., Pechova, A., & Illek, J. (2000). Direct and indirect assessment of selenium status in cattle—A comparison. Acta Veterinaria Brno,69, 281–287.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pavlata, L., Misurova, L., Pechova, A., & Dvorak, R. (2011). The effect of inorganic and organically bound forms of selenium on glutathione peroxidase activity in the blood of goats. Veterinarni Medicina,56, 75–81.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pehrson, B. (1985). Selenium-dependent and non-selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase activity in tissues from young bulls. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases,32, 488–491.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pilarczyk, B., Jankowiak, D., Tomza-Marciniak, A., Pilarczyk, R., Sablik, P., Drozd, R., et al. (2012). Selenium concentration and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in serum of cows at different stages of lactation. Biological Trace Element Research,147(1–3), 91–96.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rayman, M. P. (2000). The importance of selenium to human health. The Lancet,356, 233–241.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reilly, C. (1996). Selenium in food and health. London: Blackie A & P.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Rotruck, J. T., Pope, A. L., Ganther, H. E., Swanson, A. B., Hafeman, D. G., & Hoekstra, W. G. (1973). Selenium: Biochemical role as a component of glutathione peroxidase. Science,179(4073), 588–590.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scholz, H., & Fleischer, P. (1996). Zdravotní poruchy skotu zpûsobené nedostatkem selenu. In Veterinární péãe v chovech skotu - dodatek, Forum veterinarium Brno (pp. 1–4).

  • Scholz, R., & Hutchinson, L. (1979). Distribution of glutathione peroxidase activity and selenium in the blood of dairy cows. American Journal of Veterinary Research,40, 245–249.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spears, J. W., & Weiss, W. P. (2008). Role of antioxidants and trace elements in health and immunity of transition dairy cows. The Veterinary Journal,176, 70–76.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Suttle, N. F. (2010). Mineral nutrition of livestock (4th ed.). Wallingford: Cabi International.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Tasker, J. B., Bewick, T. D., Clark, R. G., & Fraser, A. J. (1987). Selenium response in dairy cattle. New Zealand Veterinary Journal,35(8), 139–140.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, K., Fraser, A., Harrop, B., Kirk, J., Bullians, J., & Cordes, D. (1981). Glutathione peroxidase activity and selenium concentration in bovine blood and liver as indicators of dietary selenium intake. New Zealand Veterinary Journal,29, 3–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tinggi, U. (2003). Essentiality and toxicity of selenium and its status in Australia: A review. Toxicology Letters,137, 103–110.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Saun, R. (1990). Rational approach to selenium supplementation essential. Feedstuffs,62, 15–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wei, J. Y., Wang, J., Liu, W., Zhang, K. Z., & Sun, P. (2019). Short communication: Effects of different selenium supplements on rumen fermentation and apparent nutrient and selenium digestibility of mid-lactation dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science,102(4), 3131–3135. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2018-15455.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wolf, C. (1998). Selenium status of cows-deficiency or excess? Praktische Tierarzt-Hannover,79, 755–759.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The study was performed in accordance with all applicable regulatory requirements and approved by the Ethical Review Committees of University of Peradeniya. The authors wish to express their gratitude to divisional government veterinary surgeons for their invaluable help during the sample collection. This research work was supported by the National Research Council (NRC), Sri Lanka Research Grant (NRC 12-102) offered to RC. Prof. C.B. Dissanayake and Mr. Mahes Salgado are acknowledged for their editorial help.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

    Saranga Diyabalanage & Rohana Chandrajith

  2. Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

    Saranga Diyabalanage

  3. Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

    Ashoka Dangolla & Chandima Mallawa

  4. Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

    Sanath Rajapakse

Authors
  1. Saranga Diyabalanage
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ashoka Dangolla
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Chandima Mallawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sanath Rajapakse
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Rohana Chandrajith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rohana Chandrajith.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Diyabalanage, S., Dangolla, A., Mallawa, C. et al. Bioavailability of selenium (Se) in cattle population in Sri Lanka based on qualitative determination of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities. Environ Geochem Health 42, 617–624 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-019-00395-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-019-00395-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation