Influence of nanoparticle of zinc on the response of lambs infected with Haemonchus contortus.

• Grant number: 23/03105-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: April 01, 2023
• End date: March 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Alessandro Francisco Talamini Do Amarante
• Grantee: Murilo Antonio Fernandes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/26042-8 - Nanoparticle of zinc oxide as a functional feed, AP.TEM

Abstract

The postdoctoral student will be involved in all activities of the experiment related to artificial infection of animals, performance, digestibility, methane emission, immune response and gastrointestinal microbiome. Sixty two multiparous non-twin-bearing ewes will be divided into three treatment groups. Control group (n=15) without supplementary Zn; group treated with conventional ZnO (n=15); and group treated with nanoparticle (NP) of ZnO (n=32). The samples obtained will be analyzed using the inductively coupled triple plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-QQQ 8900, Agilent®), equipped with the Single Nanoparticle Application Module software, for the determination of Zn-NP's. From the 120th day of age, the weaned lambs will be allocated into the following treatments: Control Group Non-infected (n=7) or Infected (n=8), both without Zn supplementation; conventional ZnO Group Non-infected (n=7) or Infected (n=8), both treated with with ZnO. In the case of the Zn-NP Group, four groups of lambs will be evaluated: Non-infected (n=7) and Infected (n=9), both without Zn supplementation; and Non-infected (n=7) and Infected (n=9), both treated with ZnO-NP. The infected groups will receive 1200 L3 H. contortus/week from 120th day of age until they reach 8 months of age (puberty). At the end of the study, the animals will be euthanized to determine the worm burden and to collect gastrointestinal samples and tissues.