article · Animals
Subcutaneous administration of silver nanoparticles was evaluated in New Zealand White and Jabali growing rabbits kept in hot climates. Injections given twice weekly for four weeks at doses of 0.5 mg or 1.0 mg per kilogram of body weight did not affect daily weight gain, feed intake, or feed conversion ratios. The treatment altered hematocrit and platelet counts, whilst the 0.5 mg dose lowered plasma total cholesterol and triglycerides. However, that lower dose also reduced total antioxidant capacity and elevated markers associated with oxidative stress. Silver residues accumulated in both blood and meat in a dose-dependent manner, with blood retaining higher concentrations than meat. New Zealand White rabbits outperformed Jabali rabbits in growth and carcass yields, but Jabali rabbits accumulated significantly lower silver residues in meat and blood.
Evaluating the biological impact and tissue retention of nanomaterials is vital when assessing their safety in livestock production. Because silver accumulates in edible meat, particularly at higher doses and differing across breeds, understanding these dynamics provides essential guidance on food safety, animal welfare, and potential residue risks for consumers of rabbit meat reared in hot climates.
This is early-stage research aimed at livestock researchers and veterinary health specialists evaluating nanomaterials. Because the administration of silver nanoparticles did not enhance growth efficiency and resulted in measurable silver residues in edible rabbit meat, the abstract does not indicate a viable commercial product pathway, pointing instead to safety considerations that limit practical application.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
The influence of subcutaneous injections of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on rabbit performance, hematological and biochemical parameters of blood, antioxidant status, and the residues of silver in meat and blood in two breeds (New Zealand White (NZW) and Jabali) of rabbits growing under high ambient temperature was evaluated. A total of 90 six-week-old rabbits (45 NZW and 45 Jabali) were randomly distributed into three equal treatment groups (control, 0.5 mg, and 1.0 mg AgNPs/kg body weight). The treated rabbits were injected twice a week for four consecutive weeks. The results revealed that AgNPs administration had no significant effect on average daily gain (ADG), feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR). The NZW breed surpassed the Jabali breed in growth performance traits, carcass weight, dressing percentage, and cuts of mid parts and hind cuts. Administration of AgNPs had a significant effect on hematocrit (HCT) and platelet (PLT) values. Rabbits injected with AgNPs at a dose of 0.5 mg showed a lower plasma concentration of total cholesterol and triglycerides than that of control rabbits. The NZW breed had significantly low platelet, total cholesterol, and triglyceride values. Rabbits injected with 0.5 mg/kg BW had the lowest total antioxidant capacity and highest malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase. The Ag residues were higher in blood than those in meat in treated rabbits. The local breed (Jabali) had significantly lower residues than the imported one (NZW) either in meat or in blood. However, the amount of accumulated silver in blood plasma and meat increased with increasing dose.
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DOI: 10.3390/ani9100845
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