Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Fluorotoxicosis in Diverse Species of Domestic Animals Inhabiting Areas with High Fluoride in Drinking Water of Rajasthan, India

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Chronic fluorotoxicosis in the form of dental and skeletal fluorosis was observed in 443 immature and 2,155 mature domestic animals inhabiting tribal rural areas of southern Rajasthan, India. Their drinking water contained fluoride in the range between 3.1 and 6.1 ppm. These animals included cattle (Bos taurus), buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis), horse (Equus caballus), donkeys (Equus asinus), dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius), sheep (Ovis aries) and goats (Capra hircus). Of these immature and mature animals 172 (38.8 %) and 826 (38.3 %) showed evidence of dental fluorosis with varying grades, respectively. Their incisor teeth were bilaterally and vertically or horizontally brown to deep yellowish in colour. Also present, as indication of more severe dental fluorosis, were irregular wearing and excessive abrasions of teeth, deep yellowish discoloration of exposed cementum and/or remaining enamel surface and pronounced loss of teeth supporting bone with recession of gingiva. On clinical examination 12.1 % immature and 28.4 % mature animals revealed periosteal exostoses in mandibular regions, ribs, metacarpus and metatarsus, intermittent lameness, hoop deformities and stiffness of tendons in the legs as signs of severe skeletal fluorosis. In the fluorosed animals other signs of chronic fluoride intoxication as colic, intermittent diarrhoea, excessive urination, irregular reproductive cycles, repeated abortions, sterility and still birth were seen. No significant variation in prevalence of dental fluorosis was found between mature and immature animals. However, mature animals showed relatively higher (28.4 %) prevalence of skeletal fluorosis as compared to their counterparts (12.1 %). Among these animal species, buffaloes revealed the maximum prevalence of dental (96.8 %) and skeletal (66.9 %) fluorosis and minimum of 17.02 and 8.7 %, respectively, was observed in goats. However, prevalence and severity of osteo-dental fluorosis greatly varied from species to species and between grass-eaters or grazers (cattle, buffaloes and equines) and plant-eaters or browsers (camels and flocks). Causes for variation in prevalence and severity of fluoride toxicity in different species and between animals of different feeding habits are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figs. 1–4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Choubisa SL, Choubisa DK, Joshi SC, Choubisa L (1997) Fluorosis in some tribal villages of Dungarpur district of Rajasthan, India. Fluoride 30(4):223–228

    Google Scholar 

  2. Choubisa SL (2001) Endemic fluorosis in southern Rajasthan, India. Fluoride 34(2):61–70

    Google Scholar 

  3. Choubisa SL (2012) Fluoride in drinking water and its toxicosis in tribals of Rajasthan, India. Proc Natl Acad Sci India B 82(2):325–330. doi:10.1007/s40011-012-0047-8

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Choubisa SL (1999) Chronic fluoride intoxication (fluorosis) in tribes and their domestic animals. Int J Environ Stud 56(5):703–716

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Choubisa SL (1999) Some observations on endemic fluorosis in domestic animals of southern Rajasthan (India). Vet Res Commun 23(7):457–465

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Swarup D, Dwivedi SK (2002) Environmental pollution and effects of lead and fluoride and animal health. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  7. Choubisa SL (2010) Osteo-dental fluorosis in horses and donkeys of Rajasthan, India. Fluoride 43(1):5–12

    Google Scholar 

  8. Choubisa SL (2010) Fluorosis in dromedary camels, Rajasthan, India. Fluoride 42(3):194–199

    Google Scholar 

  9. Choubisa SL (2007) Fluoridated ground water and its toxic effects on domestic animals residing in rural areas of Rajasthan (India). Int J Environ Stud 64(2):151–159

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Choubisa SL, Mishra GV, Sheikh Z, Bhardwaj B, Mali P, Jaroli VJ (2011) Toxic effects of fluoride in domestic animals. Adv Pharmacol Toxicol 12(2):29–37

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Choubisa SL (2012) Status of fluorosis in animals. Proc Natl Acad Sci India B 82(3):331–339. doi:10.1007/s40011-012-0026-0

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Choubisa SL (2008) Dental fluorosis in domestic animals. Curr Sci 95(12):1674–1675

    Google Scholar 

  13. Choubisa SL, Mishra GV, Sheikh Z, Bhardwaj B, Mali P, Jaroli VJ (2011) Food, fluoride and fluorosis in domestic ruminants in the Dungarpur district of Rajasthan, India. Fluoride 44(2):70–76

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Choubisa SL, Sompura K, Choubisa DK, Pandya H, Bhatt SK, Sharma OP et al (1995) Fluoride content in domestic water sources of Dungarpur district of Rajasthan. Indian J Environ Health 37(3):154–160

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Choubisa SL, Sompura K, Bhatt SK, Choubisa DK, Pandya H, Sharma OP (1996) Fluoride in drinking water sources of Udaipur (Rajasthan). Indian J Environ Health 38(4):286–291

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Udall DH (1954) The practice of veterinary medicine. George Banta Publishing Company, Menasha, pp 774–786

    Google Scholar 

  17. Shupe JL (1980) Clinicopathological features of fluoride toxicosis in cattle. J Anim Sci 51:746–758

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Shupe JL (1972) Clinical and pathological effects of fluoride toxicity in animals. In: Carbon–fluorine compounds; chemistry, biochemistry and biological activities. Ciba Foundation, Association of Scientific Publishers, Amsterdam, pp 357–388

  19. Choubisa SL (2010) Natural amelioration of fluoride toxicity (fluorosis) in goats and sheep. Curr Sci 99(10):1331–1332

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Pasiecznik NM (2002) Prosopis juliflora (Vilayati babul) in the dry lands of India: develop this valuable resource; don’t eradicate it. HDRA, Conventry

    Google Scholar 

  21. Shukla PC, Talpada PM, Pande MB (1984) Prosopis juliflora pods—a new cattle feed source, Technical Bulletin. Animal Nutrition Department, Gujarat Animal University, Anand, Anand

    Google Scholar 

  22. Rathore M (2009) Nutritional content of important fruit trees from arid zone of Rajasthan. J Hortic For 1:103–108

    Google Scholar 

  23. Singh ND (1981) Utilization of top feeds for sheep and goats. In: Proceedings of the national seminar on sheep and goat production. Central Sheep and Wool Research, Avikanagar, pp 1–16

  24. Goyal M, Sharma SK (2009) Traditional wisdom and value addition prospects of arid foods of desert region of North West India. Indian J Tradit Knowl 8:581–585

    Google Scholar 

  25. Carter JO (1998) Acacia nilotica: a tree legume out of control. Tropical Grassland Society, Australia Inc., St. Lucia

    Google Scholar 

  26. Mohamed AM, Somasundaram E, Alagesan A et al (2006) Evaluation of some tree species for leaf fodder in Tamil Nadu. Res J Agric Biol Sci 22:552–553

    Google Scholar 

  27. San B, Yildirim AN, Polat M, Yildirim F (2009) Mineral composition of leaves and fruits of some promising jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Miller) genotypes. Asian J Chem 21:2898–2902

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Ruby J, Nathan T, Balasingh J, Kunz TH (2000) Chemical composition of fruits and leaves eaten by short nose Fruit Bat Cynopterus sphinx. J Chem Ecol 26:2825–2841

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Pugalenthi M, Vadivel V, Gurumoorthi P, Janardhanan K (2004) Comparative nutritional evaluation of little known legumes, Tamarindus indica, Erythyrina indica and Sesbana bispinosa. Trop Subtrop Agroecosyst 4:107–123

    Google Scholar 

  30. Morton JF, Maimi FL (1987) In: Tamarind fruits of warm climates.Purdue University, Winterville North California, pp 115–121

  31. James AD (1983) Handbook of energy crops. http://www.Hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/tarmarind.html, July 02, 1998

  32. Khan KH (2009) Roles of Emblica officinalis in medicine—a review. Bot Res Int 2:218–228

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. WHO (1970) Fluoride and human health, monograph series no. 59. World Health Organization, Geneva

  34. Chinoy NJ (1991) Effects of fluoride on some organs of rat and their reversal. Proc Zool Soc (Calcutta) 144:11–15

    Google Scholar 

  35. Chinoy NJ, Reddy VVPC, Michael M (1994) Beneficial effects of ascorbic acid and calcium on reproductive functions of sodium fluoride treated prepubertal male rats. Fluoride 27:167–175

    Google Scholar 

  36. Choubisa SL, Choubisa L, Choubisa D (2011) Reversibility of natural dental fluorosis. Int J Pharmacol Biol Sci 5(2):89–93

    Google Scholar 

  37. Choubisa SL, Choubisa L, Choubisa D (2012) Osteo-dental fluorosis in relation to chemical constituents of drinking waters. J Environ Sci Eng 54(1):153–158

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Author thanks the University Grants Commission, New Delhi, India for financial assistance {No. 34-466/2008 (SR), dated 29th December 2008}. Author is also thankful to Dr. G. V. Mishra, Head of Zoology Department, Government Girls College, Dungarpur for statistical analysis of data and Dr. Zulfiya Sheikh (Assistant Professor of Zoology), V. J. Jaroli (Research Assistant) and Dr. B. Bhardwaj (Senior Veterinary Officer) for their cooperation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. L. Choubisa.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Choubisa, S.L. Fluorotoxicosis in Diverse Species of Domestic Animals Inhabiting Areas with High Fluoride in Drinking Water of Rajasthan, India. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., India, Sect. B Biol. Sci. 83, 317–321 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-012-0138-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-012-0138-6

Keywords

Navigation