BLOOD AND HAIR TRACE ELEMENTS (ARSENIC, COBALT, NICHEL, LEAD, MERCURY AND TITANIUM) EVALUATION IN GOAT: THE POTENTIAL ROLE OF BLOOD BIOMARKERS FOR ONE HEALTH APPROACH

The welfare of humans, animals, and environment is interrelated. Embracing a One Health strategy necessitates timely intervention to mitigate the primary diseases impacting animal health, hence ensuring the safety of livestock production. Exposure to harmful trace elements in goat can result in heightened accumulation in various biological substrates, leading to the development of both acute and chronic illnesses in humans and animals, reflecting environmental pollution (1). The aim of this research is to study the potential bioaccumulation of various trace elements (Arsenico- As, Cobalt- Co, Nichel- Ni, Lead- Pb, Mercury- Hg and Titanium- Ti) in goat blood and hair. On this basis, we wanted to understand the relationships between hematological parameters (RBC, WBC, Hb, Hct, PLT) and the concentrations of the studied trace elements in biological substrates for potential use as blood biomarkers in the species. Blood and hair were collected from 25 non-pregnant and lactating clinical healthy goats aged between 2 and 3 years to determine Trace elements concentration. Trace elements were determined on biological samples using a Thermo Scientific iCAP-Q ICP-MS spectrometer. On the EDTA blood sample taken in duplicate, haematological parameters (RBC, WBC, Hb, Hct, PLT) were determined by means of an automated hematology analyzer (HeCo Vet C; SEAC, Florence, Italy). A paired t-test and multiple regression analysis (Pearson) (p< 0.05) was performed to evaluate the relationship among As, Co, Ni, Pb, Hg and Ti and blood and hair, together with their relationship with haematological parameters respectively. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference for As (p< 0.0001), Co (p< 0.0001), Ni (p< 0.0001), Pb (p< 0.0001), Hg (p< 0.0001), and Ti (p<0.0001) concentration between blood and hair. Our results revealed a statistically higher concentration of As and Pb in blood and higher concentration of Co, Ni, Hg and Ti in hair compared to blood. Blood As and Ti showed a positive correlation with HGB (r=0.48; p<0.01; r=0.52; p<0.01). Blood Pb and Ti showed a positive correlation with HCT (r=0.52; p<0.01; r=0.52; p<0.01) and a negative correlation was observed for blood Co and WBC (r=-0.45; p<0.01). The analysis of the results clearly indicates a strong correlation between the bioaccumulation of specific trace elements in several goat biological substrates and haematological parameters, which serve as valuable biomarkers, similar to those in humans (2). These results should be examined thoroughly in goats to understand the significance of haematological factors in productive and reproductive activities.