Beneficial effects of iodoprophilaxis on ovine reproduction

Some area of Abruzzo are characterized by severe iodine deficiency and by high prevalence of iodine deficient disorders. The adverse effects of iodine deficiency are also present in farm animals, compromising local economy. In the present study, granted by the Ministero della Sanità, we attempted to: a) monitor sheep iodine intake in different sheep breeding farms distributed in the Abruzzo territory; b) monitor the effects of iodoprophylaxis on animal reproductive capacity. Eleven breeding farms, with a total of 56 animals, were examined. By measuring urinary iodine concentration (UIC), acceptable levels of iodine intake were present in animals bred in 3 farms, with a mean UIC  300 g/L; animals bred in 3 farms showed a mean UIC between 100-150 g/L, while values of UIC  50 g/L were observed in animals bred in the remaining 5 farms. In one of the farms, with low value of UIC, subcutaneous injections of 1 ml of Lipiodol were done in male and female animals. This single injection was able to maintain UIC well above 300 g/L for at least 3 months. After 6 months reproductive capacity were assessed by monitoring the rate of successful mating, compared to that of untreated animals. To this end, lipidiol-treated and untreated females were mated for 5 days with lipiodol treated and untreated males, respectively. Successful mating were evaluated by monitoring, 1 month later, the presence of embryos by ecographic analysis. The results showed that about 90% of treated females mated with treated males were pregnant while only 37% of the control females mated with control males were pregnant. In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrate that iodoprophylaxis improves ovine reproductive capacity. This may improve local economy and may also be beneficial for human iodoprophylaxis in the region.