The ameliorative effect of ascorbic acid (AA) on live weight following transportation is vital in animal husbandry. This study investigated the influence of AA on live weight, rectal temperature (rt), and oxidative status of transport stressed goats in a hot humid tropical environment. Twenty-four goats were divided into four groups, A, B, C and D of six animals each. Group A were administered AA 100 mg/kg intramuscularly 30 min prior to 3.5 h transportation. Group B was administered AA following transportation. Group C were transported but not administered AA as positive controls while group D were not transported but were administered normal saline as negative controls. Live weight, rt and blood samples were collected before, immediately post-transport (pt), 24 h, 3 days, 7 days and 10 days pt. Plasma was used for malondialdehyde (MDA) analysis while hemolysates were used for superoxide dismutase (SOD) analysis. There was minimal live weight loss in group A compared to groups B and C. Group A recorded reduced MDA activities and increased SOD activities compared to groups B and C which recorded significantly high MDA activities. This study revealed that AA administration ameliorated the stress responses induced by transportation in animals in hot humid tropical environments. The administration of AA to goats prior to transportation could ameliorate stress and enhance productivity.
Brucellosis constitutes an infectious re-emerging zoonosis. Spread of diseases could be exacerbated by stress-induced immunosuppression. This study evaluated relationship between Brucella melitensis infection, shedding dynamics, dexamethasone-induced stress, pathological alterations and resveratrol ameliorative effects in goats. Twelve nonpregnant goats were divided into four groups A, B, C, and D of three animals each. Groups A and B were administered 107 CFU/mL of B. melitensis ocularly, 21 days prior to 7 days consecutive administration of dexamethasone (2 mg/kg). Group A was further administered resveratrol (5 mg/kg) intravenously for 5 consecutive days from day 31 post B. melitensis inoculation. Group C was administered similar dose of B. melitensis while group D was inoculated normal saline. Blood, nasal, ocular, and vaginal swabs were collected at intervals for analysis. The does were sacrificed at day 42 post inoculation (pi). Tissues were collected for tissue bacterial load determination, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry. Dexamethasone administration from day 21 pi increased the frequency in the shedding dynamics, tissue bacterial load, pathological alterations (frequency of microgranuloma and intensity of immunostaining) in group B while 5 days treatment with resveratrol following dexamethasone administration significantly reduced tissue bacterial load, decline in shedding dynamics, and ameliorate damage by dexamethasone administration/B. melitensis infection.