Iodine deficiency in Alpine goats in some rural areas of Elbasan district

KASTRIOT BELEGU¹*, NEZIR GJONI, BEJO BIZHGA², PLLUM ZALLA¹, GERALD MUÇA¹

¹Department of Morphofunctional Modules, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural University, Tirana, Albania

²Department of Preclinic Subjects, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural University, Tirana, Albania

*Corresponding author e-mail: kastriot.belegu@ubt.edu.al

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Abstract

In the area around the former Metallurgical Combine in Elbasan for the period 1987-2018, the largest pollutant in the country has depleted the lands and has adversely affected the vegetation, animals and human beings. In addition to the high percentage of BPH in humans and animals, there is an increase in the percentage of neoplasms in humans and animals. The focus of our study will be on iodine deficiency in the alpine goats in areas near the metallurgical combine. In the last 4 years, there have been cases of fetal deaths due to iodine deficiency. This phenomenon was encountered in calves, pigs, lambs and goats. Autochthonous races have been more resistant than improved races. Of the most affected species were alpine goats. Percentage of cases of morbidity of this race was about 12% in the villages of Katundi i Ri, Brandashesh, Balldren, Vidhas, Papër, Mjekes, Bujqes, Jogodine and Muriqan. The frequency is proportional to the increase in distance from the metallurgical combine. Case mortality was around 35%. Some of the kids were killed in the first 2-3 months of life, seeing the low profitability of these individuals. Part is carried out in family conditions. These individuals, as in the following pictures, are evidence of iodine insufficiency in food and soil due to pollution and other natural factors, and sometimes the lack of technical assistance for animal nutrition

Keywords: Milk goitre, iodine deficiency, thyroid gland, triiodthyronine, tetraiodtironine, thyroxine