CLINICAL AND HEMATOLOGICAL INDICES IN CATTLE IN RADIOACTIVE CLOUD TRAIL
The study of the health status of livestock in radioactive cloud trail is a topical issue for farming industry as it serves as a ground for planning and implementation of protective measures. The major clinical and hematological indices of the cattle population of the Gomel Region of Belarus in the areas most affected by the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant were studied depending on radioactive fallout intensity and the degree of postradiational changes in animals. The areas were conditionally divided into 4 groups: the first group included most affected areas, and further in decreasing order. The interrelation of the density of radioactive contamination with the incidence and degree of pathological signs in cattle was revealed. In the areas of Group 1 and, to a lesser extent, Group 2 the clinical signs were revealed in virtually all animals that grazed during the first days after the radioactive fallout. There were the following signs of radiation injury of the thyroid by radioiodine: mucosal hyperemia, depression, neck oedemas, exophthalmos. Some animals revealed ruffled, curled hair, and longer hair on the neck and shoulders. The averaged values of cows’ hematological indices at all observations were within the physiological range, but there was a trend to anemia. The increase in eosinophil count was revealed during the first 2 years. In the areas of groups 1 and 2 it was advised to replace the animals that were exposed to joint radiation action during the initial period of “iodine danger”. In the most affected areas 74-87% of cattle were replaced. The protective measures minimized the possible economic damage. It is shown that hastened culling of animals exposed to intensive radioiodine exposure is the most effective measure to reduce the damage to livestock farming in radioactive trail.