EFFECTS OF EXPERIMENTAL Fasciola gigantica INFECTION ON SEMEN CHARACTERISTICS, TESTOSTERONE PROFILES AND SOME HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN YANKASA RAMS
EFFECTS OF EXPERIMENTAL Fasciola gigantica INFECTION ON SEMEN CHARACTERISTICS, TESTOSTERONE PROFILES AND SOME HAEMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN YANKASA RAMS
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Date
2014-05
Authors
ILIYASU, Dauda
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Abstract
This study was designed to determine the effects of experimental Fasciola infection on semen characteristics, testosterone profiles and haematological parameters of Yankasa rams. Twelve apparently healthy Yankasa rams aged 18-24 months were randomly divided into two groups of seven and five as infected and control groups (A and B) respectively. The rams were kept under intensive management and their base-line data on vital parameters, testosterone profiles, haematological parameters and semen characteristics were taken bi-weekly, for four weeks prior to experimental infection. Metacercariae were isolatedby crushing naturally infectedLymnaeanatalensis. Group A rams were orally inoculated with 800 metacercariae. From 2 to 12 weeks of infection, semen samples were collected once a week between 08:00 and 10:00 hours in both groups and evaluated for colour, volume, motility, pH, morphology, concentration and sperm viability. Five ml of blood was collected bi-weekly from the jugular vein, from week 2 to week 12 of infection for evaluation of haematological parameters as well as determination of testosterone levels. There was progressive decrease in PCV, haemoglobin concentration and total protein. Testosterone concentration as determined by competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (cELISA) was higher by 8:00am in both groups and gradually became lower by 9:00am. The live weight, rectal temperature and scrotal circumference were measured twice a week. The live weight in Group A started decreasing at week 2 Post Infection (PI), but the weight in Group B rams progressively increased. The temperature was significantly (p<0.05) higher in Group A at week 9 PI, (40.1 ± 0.10C) compared to Group B, (38.7 ± 0.10C). The scrotal circumference of group A rams was significantly lower 1(9.3±0.7 cm) at week 11 PI, than those of group B rams (25.8±0.6 cm) at the same week. At the end of the experiment 2 rams from both groups were sacrificed, and their testes harvested for the determination of the gonadal and epididymal sperm reserves. The gonadal sperm reserves wassignificantly (p>0.05) lowerin group A(136.0±70.0 x106/gm) compared to group B rams (377.0±0.0 x106/gm). The epididymal sperm reserveswas significantly (p>0.05) lower in group A (55.4±43x106/gm) compared to group B rams (284.7±0.0 x106/gm). From this study, it was concluded Fasciolagigantica infection caused loss of body condition, testicular damage and have deleterious effects on semen characteristics, haematological parameters and testosterone concentration in Yankasa rams. Further work is required to investigate if the low sperm output caused by infection is reversible by use of chemotherapy. The use of diagnostic aids like ultra sound should be employed to determine the extent of damage in the liver and the testes in Yankasa rams
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A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE AWARD OF DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN THERIOGENOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF THERIOGENOLOGY AND PRODUCTION, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA
MAY,
Keywords
EFFECTS,, EXPERIMENTAL,, INFECTION,, SEMEN,, CHARACTERISTICS,, TESTOSTERONE,, PROFILES,, HAEMATOLOGICAL,, PARAMETERS, YANKASA RAMS,