SERUM BIOCHEMICAL FINDINGS IN EXPERIMENTAL HYPOMAGNESEMIA IN BUFFALO CALVES

Hypomagnesemia was induced in 6 buffalo calves by intraruminal administration of potassium chloride and citric acid @ 1.3 and 1.1 g/kg body weight daily, respectively, for 5 days; 6 calves were used as healthy control. The affected calves revealed clinical signs of erection and backward carriage of ears and alertness on day 4, excitment on day 5 and frequent urination and sunken eyeball on day 6 after getting first dose of potassium and citric acid. Total protein, albumin and total cholesterol were elevated between days 1 and 10, 1 and 7, 1 and 14 respectively. Globulin increased between days 2 and 5. There was significant decrease in the levels of glucose (days 1-7), magnesium (days 2-20), iron (days 1-10), copper (days 2-20), calcium (days 2-10), inorganic phosphorus (days 1-10) and sodium (days 4-10) in hypomagnesemic values. Potassium and chloride levels increased between days 1 and 10, and 2 and 20, respectively, whereas magnesium content in cerebrospinal fluid was significantly low on days 2, 4, 7 and 10 after giving the first dose of potassium chloride and citric acid.