Serum Copper, Zinc and Manganese Concentrations in Bovine Dermatophytosis in Kars Region

This study was aimed at investigating the alterations observed in serum copper (Cu), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) concentrations in bovine dermatophytosis. Sixty cattle of both genders and various breeds, aged 3-18 months and raised in Kars province and surrounding villages, and 40 of them suffered from dermatophytosis (Group I) while 20 of them were healthy (Group II), constituted the study material. The mean serum Cu, Mn and Zn concentrations of animals were determined as 0.33, 3.10 and 0.79 ml/L, respectively, in Group I, and as 0.18, 6.25 and 3.14 ml/L, respectively, in Group II. The statistical comparison of serum Mn and Zn concentrations of cattle diagnosed with dermatophytosis and healthy ones demonstrated that serum Mn and Zn concentrations of cattle suffering from dermatophytosis were significantly lower than that of healthy ones (P 0.001). Serum Cu concentrations of cattle with dermatophytosis were higher than that of healthy ones (P 0.001). In conclusion, it was determined that, in bovine dermatophytosis, serum Mn and Zn concentrations decreased while serum Cu concentrations were affected in different ways.