Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle Supplementation on Performance, Digestibility, and Blood Biochemistry of Californian Male Rabbits Under Hot Climatic Conditions

  • Published:
Biological Trace Element Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the effects of nanoparticles of zinc oxide (Nano-ZnO) supplementation on productive performance, nutrient digestibility, mineral retention, and blood biochemistry of Californian male rabbits under hot climatic conditions. A total of 100 Californian male rabbits 90 days of age (BW: 1790 ± 13 g) were randomly assigned to one of five treatment diets: Nano-ZnO at 0, 25, 50, 75, or 100 mg/kg, respectively, for 90 days. The rabbits were raised in an open house system (average ambient temperature of 39 °C, relative humidity of 30–35%, and temperature-humidity index of 33.6–34.0). Each treatment had 20 rabbits, and each rabbit was considered as a replicate. During the entire study period, there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in BW, BW gain, feed intake, or feed conversion ratio between the treatment groups. Nano-ZnO supplementation at 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg/kg enhanced the digestibility coefficient of crude protein (CP) and ether extract (EE) considerably (quadratically, P < 0.05) when compared to the control group. In addition, when Nano-ZnO was supplemented at 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg/kg, serum levels of creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were considerably lower than the non-supplemented control group. Furthermore, when comparing the control and Nano-ZnO-fed rabbits, serum testosterone concentrations increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the treated groups. In addition, compared to the other groups, the 50 mg/kg Nano-ZnO group had the highest cecal Lactobacilli spp. count. These findings suggest that supplementing Californian male rabbits with 50 mg/kg dietary Nano-ZnO enhanced CP and EE digestibility, cecal Lactobacilli spp., as well as serum testosterone levels, and decreased serum ALT and AST levels under hot climatic conditions.

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
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

Data Availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

References

  1. Abdel-Wareth AAA, Hammad S, Ahmed H (2014) Effects of Khaya senegalensis leaves on performance, carcass traits, hematological and biochemical parameters in rabbits. EXCLI J 13:502–512

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Marai IFM, Hareeb AAM, Gad A (2002) Rabbits productive, reproductive and physiological performance traits as affected by heat stress: a review. Livest Prod Sci 78:71–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0301-6226(02)00091-X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Jaén-Téllez JA, Sánchez-Guerrero MJ, Valera M, González-Redondo P (2021) Influence of stress assessed through infrared thermography and environmental parameters on the performance of fattening rabbits. Animals 11:1747. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11061747

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Abdel-Wareth AAA, Taha EMM, Südekum K-H, Lohakare J (2018) Thyme oil inclusion levels in a rabbit ration: evaluation of productive performance, carcass criteria and meat quality under hot environmental conditions. Anim Nutr 4:410–416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aninu.2018.02.004

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Asemota O, Aduba P, Bello-Onaghise G, Orheruata A (2017) Effect of temperature humidity index (THI) on the performance of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in the humid tropics. Arch Zootec 66:257–261

    Google Scholar 

  6. Marai I, Habeeb A, Gad A (2003) Reproductive traits of male rabbits as affected by climatic conditions, in the subtropical environment of Egypt. Anim Sci 77(3):451–458. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1357729800054394

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Suttle NF (2010) Mineral nutrition of livestock, 4th Edition. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, UK. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781845934729.0000

  8. King JC (2011) Zinc: an essential but elusive nutrient. Am J Clin Nutr 94(2):679S-684S. https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.110.005744

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Pandav PV, Puranik PR (2015) Trials on metal enriched spirulinaplatensis supplementation on poultry growth. Global J Biosci Biotechn 4:128–134

    Google Scholar 

  10. Kechrid Z, Bouzerna N (2004) Effect of zinc deficiency on zinc and carbohydrate metabolism in genetically diabetic (c57bl/ksj db+/db+) and non-diabetic original strain (c57bl/ksj) mice. Turkish J Med Sci 34:367–373

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Surai PF, Kochish II, Velichko OA (2017) Nano-Se assimilation and action in poultry and other monogastric animals Is gut microbiota an answer? Nanoscale Res Lett 12:612. https://doi.org/10.1186/s11671-017-23833

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Fallah A, Mohammad-Hasani A, Colagar AH (2018) Zinc is an essential element for male fertility: a review of Zn roles in men’s health, germination, sperm quality, and fertilization. J Reprod Infertil 19:69–81

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Gibson RS, Bailey KB, Gibbs M, Ferguson EL (2010) A review of phytate, iron, zinc, and calcium concentrations in plant-based complementary foods used in low-income countries and implications for bioavailability. Food Nutr Bull 31:S134-146. https://doi.org/10.1177/15648265100312S206

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Yan J, Zhang G, Zhang C, Tang L, Kuang S (2017) Effect of dietary organic zinc sources on growth performance, incidence of diarrhoea, serum and tissue zinc concentrations, and intestinal morphology in growing rabbits. World Rabbit Sci 25(1):43–49. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2017.5770

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Ismail HTH, El-Araby IE (2017) Effect of dietary zinc oxide nanoparticles supplementation on biochemical, hematological and genotoxicity parameters in rabbits. Int J Current Advan Res 6(2):2108–2115

    Google Scholar 

  16. Hassan F, Mobarez S, Mohamed M, Attia Y, Mekawy A, Mahrose K (2021) Zinc and/or selenium enriched spirulina as antioxidants in growing rabbit diets to alleviate the deleterious impacts of heat stress during summer season. Animals 11:756. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11030756

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Alijani K, Rezaei J, Rouzbehan Y (2020) Effect of nano-ZnO, compared to ZnO and Zn-methionine, on performance, nutrient status, rumen fermentation, blood enzymes, ferric reducing antioxidant power and immunoglobulin G in sheep. Anim Feed Sci Technol 267:114532. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2020.114532

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Hassan FA, Mahmoud R, El-Araby IE (2017) Growth performance serum biochemical, economic evaluation and IL6 gene expression in growing rabbits fed diets supplemented with zinc nanoparticles. Zagazig Vet J 45(3):238–249. https://doi.org/10.21608/zvjz.2017.7949

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. El-Moghazy M, El-Fadaly H, Khalifa E, Mohamed M (2019) Effect of dietary zinc-methionine on growth, carcass traits, antioxidants and immunity of growing rabbits. J Anim Poult Prod 10(3):59–66

    Google Scholar 

  20. Adeyemi AA, Ibrahim OW, Ajayi OO, Ayeni ST (2020) Semen indices, growth response and sperm reserve of male rabbits fed zinc supplemented diets. World Rabbit Sci 28:199–206. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2020.13507

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Perez JM, Lebas F, Gidenne T, Maertens L, Xiccato G, Parigi-Bini RA, Dalle Zotte RM, Cossu R, Carazzolo A, Villamide MJ, Carabaño R, Fraga MJ, Ramos MA, Cervera C, Blas E, Fernández J, Cunha LF, Freire JB (1995) European reference method for in vivo determination of diet digestibility in rabbits. World Rabbit Sci 3:41–43

    Google Scholar 

  22. AOAC (2000) Official methods of analysis. 17th Ed. Assoc. Off. Anal. Chem, Arlington, VA. USA

  23. SAS (2009) Institute User’s Guide: Statistics. Version 9.2. SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC, USA

  24. Tingting L, Wengang H, Xiudong L, Xi L, Liyang Z, Lin L, Yanli G, Zongping L, Xugang L (2021) Zinc alleviates the heat stress of primary cultured hepatocytes of broiler embryos via enhancing the antioxidant ability and attenuating the heat shock responses. Anim Nutri 7:621–630. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aninu.2021.01.003

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Swain PS, Rajendran D, Rao S, Dominic G (2015) Preparation and effects of nano mineral particle feeding in livestock: a review. Vet World 8(7):888–891. https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2015.888-891

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  26. NRC. Nutrient requirement of rabbits (1977) National Academic of Sciences, National Research Council, Washington, DC, USA

  27. Hassan F, Amin A, Ali FH, El-Aasar WATA, Azoz AA (2016) Effect of dietary addition of zinc enriched spirulina on growth and physiological performance in growing rabbits. Egyptian J Rabbit Sci 26(2):155–173. https://doi.org/10.21608/ejrs.2016.42067

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Selim N, Abdel-Khalek A, Gad SM (2012) Effect of supplemental zinc, magnesium or iron on performance and some physiological traits of growing rabbits. Asian J Poult Sci 6(1):23–30. https://doi.org/10.3923/ajpsaj.2012.23.30

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Alikwe P, Ojiezeh T, Olagboye S (2011) Effects of zinc supplement on rabbits performance and growth rate. J Agri Social Res 11:46–50

    Google Scholar 

  30. Chrastinová L, Čobanová K, Chrenková M, Poláčiková M, Formelová Z, Lauková A, Ondruška L, Simonová MP, Strompfová V, Bučko O, Mlyneková Z, Mlynár R, Grešáková L (2015) High dietary levels of zinc for young rabbits. Slovak J Anim Sci 48(2):57–63

    Google Scholar 

  31. Elsisi GF, Ayyat M, Gabr H, El-Rahman A (2017) Effect of dietary protein levels and zinc supplementation on growth performance, digestibility, blood constituents and carcass traits of growing rabbits. Zagazig J Agri Res 44:1369–1378. https://doi.org/10.21608/zjar.2017.52939

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Al-Sagheer AA, Daader AH, Gabr HA, Abd El-Moniem EA (2017) Palliative effects of extra virgin olive oil, gallic acid, and lemongrass oil dietary supplementation on growth performance, digestibility, carcass traits, and antioxidant status of heat-stressed growing New Zealand white rabbits. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 24(7):6807–6818. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-8396-8

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. King JC, Keen CL, Zinc In, Shils ME, Olsen JAS, Shike M, Ross AC. eds. (1999) Modern nutrition in health and disease 9th edition. Baltimore. Williams and Wilkin 223–239

  34. Zapsalis C, Beck RA (1985) Food chemistry and nutritional biochemistry. Wiley, USA New York, pp 1006–1009

    Google Scholar 

  35. Amen MHM, Muhammad SS (2016) Effect of zinc supplementation on some physiological and growth traits in local male rabbit. World Vet J 6(3):151–155. https://doi.org/10.5455/wvj.20160881

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Abdel-Wareth AAA, Al-Kahtani MA, Alsyaad KM, Shalaby FM, Saadeldin IM, Alshammari FA, Mobashar M, Suleiman MHA, Ali AHH, Taqi MO, El-Sayed HGM, El-Sadek MSA, Metwally AE, Ahmed AE (2020) Combined supplementation of nano-zinc oxide and thyme oil improves the nutrient digestibility and reproductive fertility in the male Californian rabbits. Animals (Basel) 10(12):2234. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10122234

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Halo JM, Bułka K, Antos PA, Greń A, Slanina T, Ondruška E, Tokárová K, Massányi M, Formicki G, Halo M, Massányi P (2021) The effect of ZnO nanoparticles on rabbit spermatozoa motility and viability parameters in vitro. Saudi J Biol Sci 28(12):7450–454

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  38. Arabi F, Imandar M, Negahdary M, Imandar M, Noughabi MT, Akbari-dastjerdi H (2012) Investigation anti-bacterial effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles upon life of Listeria monocytogenes. Ann Biol Res 3:3679–3685

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Mudroňová D, Gancarčíková S, Nemcová R (2019) Influence of zinc sulphate on the probiotic properties of lactobacillus plantarum ccm 7102. Folia Veterinaria 63(2):45–54. https://doi.org/10.2478/fv-2019-0018

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Padmavathy N, Vijayaraghavan R (2008) Enhanced bioactivity of ZnO nanoparticles- an antimicrobial study. Sci Techn Advan Material 9:1–7

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal and Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture, South Valley University, Qena, 83523, Egypt

    A. A. A. Abdel-Wareth, M. A. H. Raslan & Z. S. H. Ismail

  2. Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, South Valley University, Qena, 83523, Egypt

    W. Salem

  3. Department of Agriculture - Animal Science Option, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Pine Bluff, AR, 71601, USA

    J. Lohakare

  4. Present Address: Cooperative Agricultural Research Center, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, TX, 77446, USA

    J. Lohakare

Authors
  1. A. A. A. Abdel-Wareth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. A. H. Raslan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Z. S. H. Ismail
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. W. Salem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. J. Lohakare
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Conceptualization, A.A.A.A and Z.S.H.I.; methodology, A.A.A.A., M.A.H.R., and W.S.; formal analysis, A.A.A.A. and M.A.H.R.; writing—original draft preparation, A.A.A.A. and J.L.; writing—review and editing, A.A.A.A., W.S., and J.L. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to A. A. A. Abdel-Wareth or J. Lohakare.

Ethics declarations

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

The current study was approved by the Ethical Committee for live animal sampling at the Department of Animal and Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture, South Valley University (SVUAGR-8–2020), and all methods were performed in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations.

Consent for Publication

Not applicable.

Competing Interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

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

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Abdel-Wareth, A.A.A., Raslan, M.A.H., Ismail, Z.S.H. et al. Effects of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle Supplementation on Performance, Digestibility, and Blood Biochemistry of Californian Male Rabbits Under Hot Climatic Conditions. Biol Trace Elem Res 201, 3418–3427 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-022-03432-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-022-03432-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation