EFFECTS OF VARYING LEVELS OF HAEMONCHUS INFECTION ON SOME HAEMATOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF SHEEP DURING THE DRY SEASON
EFFECTS OF VARYING LEVELS OF HAEMONCHUS INFECTION ON SOME HAEMATOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF SHEEP DURING THE DRY SEASON
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Date
1985-10
Authors
CHIEZEY, NGOZI P.
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Abstract
The effects of varying levels of Haemonchus spp
on haematological and some serum parameters of sheep
were investigated, Forty-seven experimental animals
with ages ranging from 6 - 1 8 months, which had
previously been exposed to infection were used. They
were divided into four groups, I, II, III and IV
each consisting of 12 animals with the exception of
group IV with 11 animals. Groups I, II and III were
innoculated with 35,000, 14,000 and 2,8000 Haemonchus
infective larvae respectively while Group IV served
as uninfected controls. Each animal was dosed in
seven instalments spreading over seven days. The
results of the experiment were evaluated on
haematological, serum protein and serum electrolyte
changes, faecal egg output and worm recovery over
a 21 - week period.
The sheep showed some resistance to experimental
infections of up to 35,000 larvae - as was shown
by their faecal helminth egg output and worm recovery
data. All animals reacted in a similar pattern
irrespective of dose given. Average nematode egg
counts of each group did not reflect the level of
initial larvae given and was below 4,000 eggs per
gram in all infected animals. Animals with the
lightest infections had the highest egg counts,
cummulative mean values being 626, 982 and 1173
for Groups I, II and III respectively.
Packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentrations
erythrocyte and leucocyte counts as well as serum
iron values did not show marked changes as a result
of infection but the controls had higher mean
haemoglobin concentrations and total mean serum iron
values significantly higher than those of the infected
groups. Differential white cell counts did not show
significant changes but there was slight
eosirohilia in infected animals.
No abnormal changes in the total serum protein
and serum protein fractions were detected as a result
of the infection. However, values for the controls
were higher than those of the infected but these
differences were not statistically significant.
Albumin values for Group I were significantly
(P<0.05) lower than all other groups, values being
46.9 ± 6 . 6 , 49.1±4.9, 49.9±6.0 and 49.5±5.2 percent
for Groups I, II, III and IV respectively. Group
IV had significantly lower globulin values than any
of the infected groups.
Serum sodium and Potassium values did not show
any discernable patterns but Group IV had lower sodium
values than any of the infected groups while Potassium
did not differ significantly between the groups.
At necropsy, the worm burdens did not reflect
the doses given and less than two percent of helminths
given to each animal was recovered. Mean numbers
of worms recovered in Groups I, II and III were 357,
175 and 48 respectively. No arrested larvae were
recovered in all the infected groups.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POST-GRADUATE
SCHOOL, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, IN
PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE,
DEPARTMENT OF PARASITOLOGY AND
•
ENTOMOLOGY,
FACULTY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY,
ZARIA, NIGERIA.
OCT. 1985
Keywords
VARYING,, HAEMONCHUS,, HAEMATOLOGICAL,, BIOCHEMICAL,, PARAMETERS,, SHEEP,, DRY SEASON