Abstract

In most rural areas or villages, the sources of drinking water for domesticated animals are perennial rivers, canals, lakes, streams, reservoirs, ponds, etc. However, the most common sources are perennial ponds. Seasonal ponds dry up after a few months while perennial ponds retain water for a long time. That is why most of the animals in the villages drink water again and again from these perennial fresh water sources whenever they go out for grazing. According to the World Health Organisation, fluoride in these drinking water sources (habitats) is found in trace amounts or in the range of 0.01-0.3ppm. Drinking such fluoridated water is generally harmless to animals. But recent survey studies have shown that many fresh water sources in different geographic regions have fluoride content much higher than the standard or acceptable value for humans of 1.0ppm or 1.5ppm. If such water is frequently consumed by domesticated animals, such as cattle (Bos taurus), water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), sheep (Ovis aris), goats (Capra hircus), horses (Equus caballus), donkeys (E. asinus), and dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) over a long period of time then it becomes harmful to their health and causes chronic fluoride poisoning or intoxication in the form of dangerous fluorosis (hydrofluorosis) disease. Due to this disease, the teeth of animals get damaged, brownish stained, become weak, and fall at an early age (dental fluorosis) and most of the animals become victims of lameness (skeletal fluorosis). Many health complaints such as gastrointestinal discomforts, anaemia, repeated abortions, infertility, etc. (non-skeletal fluorosis) are also found in animals afflicted with fluoride poisoning or fluorosis. But most of the cattle rearers are not aware of the side or toxic effects of drinking fluoridated fresh water or fluorosis in their animals. Chronic fluoride poisoning not only harms the health of animals but is also responsible for economic losses to livestock farmers, which is also focused on in the present communication.

Keywords:Chronic fluoride poisoning; Dental fluorosis; Domestic animals; Fresh water; Fluorosis; Health; Livestock farmers; Non-skeletal fluorosis; Skeletal fluorosis