The pathogenesis of Babesia motasi (Wales) infection in sheep.
Studies on the pathogenesis of Babesia motasi (Wales) infection following blood transfusion of infected blood to normal or splenectomised recipients showed that the intact animal is refractory to infection but that infection in splenectomised animals caused weight loss, fever, anorexia, lassitude and a macrocytic hypochromic anaemia which coincided with the peak of parasitaemia. There was an initial leucocytosis, largely due to a neutrophilia. The prepatent period following blood transfusion was 2-3 days. Unconjugated and conjugated (direct) bilirubin levels increased from pre-infection levels to peaks of 1.43 and 0.70 mg/100 ml of blood, respectively. Serum glutamic pyruvic acid transaminases (SGPT) increased slightly but serum glutamic-oxaloacetic acid transaminases (SGOT) and blood sugar (glucose) levels did not show significant changes after infection. Total serum protein levels increased temporarily and then returned to normal. Blood urea nitrogen levels increased, with biphasic peaks (76.32 and 86.29 mg/100 ml) on Days 2 and 8 post-patency. Clinical infections even in splenectomised sheep, were mild and of short duration, although recovered sheep remained carriers.
Alani
A J
AJ
School of Animal Biology, University College of North Wales, Bangor, Great Britain.
Herbert
I V
IV
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000740:Anemia / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000032:analysis; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D001831:Body Temperature; D001835:Body Weight; D004906:Erythrocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D005334:Fever / Q000662:veterinary; D006321:Heart; D006400:Hematocrit / Q000662:veterinary; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006461:Hemolysis; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
D001786:Blood Glucose; D001798:Blood Proteins; D006454:Hemoglobins; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D001663:Bilirubin