Evaluation of abomasal enzyme and hormone levels in the diagnosis of ostertagiasis.
Pathophysiological changes in the ruminant abomasum caused by Ostertagia infections include changes in the activity and concentration of gastrointestinal enzymes and hormones. Under certain circumstances, increases in concentration also occur in the bloodstream and, as such, are detectable. Determination of serum pepsinogen levels is useful in evaluating the risk or presence of ostertagiasis Type I in a herd. It seems less reliable when used to diagnose (pre) ostertagiasis in individual animals. Measurement of the concentration of other zymogens is not useful. The variations in methodology to determine pepsinogen levels (e.g. biochemical and immunological measurements) are discussed. Serum gastrin levels are, generally, increased in animals with ostertagiasis. At present, gastrin is mainly determined by RIA assays using human gastrin antibodies, but few baseline data are available on normal levels in ruminants. The use of gastrin determination as a diagnostic tool in Ostertagia-infected ruminants is limited.
Schillhorn van Veen
T W
TW
College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824.
D000018:Abomasum / Q000032:analysis / Q000201:enzymology*; D000818:Animals; D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D005755:Gastrins / Q000097:blood*; D010029:Ostertagiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D010435:Pepsinogens / Q000032:analysis*; D012418:Ruminants / Q000469:parasitology*; D014252:Trichostrongyloidiasis / Q000662:veterinary*
D005755:Gastrins; D010435:Pepsinogens