Effect of road transportation on erythrocyte osmotic fragility of pigs administered ascorbic acid during the harmattan season in Zaria, Nigeria

This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of eight hours road transportation on pigs administered ascorbic acid (AA) during the harmattan season. Twenty nine pigs were used for the study, seventeen pigs were administered with AA at a dose of 250 mg/kg per os and served as experimental animals, while 13 others each administered orally with sterile water served as control animals. The animals were then transported for 8 h at a speed of 40 - 50 km/h covering a distance of 260 km. Blood samples were taken early in the morning a day before transportation, immediately after (within 30 min) and a week after transportation. Thereafter, erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF) was determined using a standard method. There was a statistically significant (P < 0.05) difference in percent haemolysis recorded at NaCl concentration of 0.30, 0.40 and 0.60% between experimental and control pigs immediately after transportation. The results of the present study indicated that measuring osmotic resistance of erythrocytes could be used as a determinant of oxidative stress in pigs transported by road.   Key words: Ascorbic acid, erythrocyte osmotic fragility, harmattan season, pigs, road transportation.