Plasma ascorbic acid levels in sheep experimentally infected with Fasciola hepatica.
Three groups of sheep, one control (A) and two infected with Fasciola hepatica metacercariae (B&C), were investigated. Each animal of group B was orally dosed with about 270 metacercariae and each sheep in group C received two such doses administered 14 days apart. In both infected groups, plasma ascorbic acid levels progressively decreased after exposure reaching a minimum by week 9, and then slightly increased during the subsequent five weeks. The decrease in ascorbic acid concentrations was mainly related to impaired synthesis as a result of the hepatic damage caused by the flukes.
D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D001659:Biliary Tract / Q000473:pathology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D005210:Fasciola hepatica / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005211:Fascioliasis / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary*; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D012712:Serum Globulins / Q000032:analysis; D012756:Sheep / Q000469:parasitology*; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000097:blood*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D012709:Serum Albumin; D012712:Serum Globulins; D001205:Ascorbic Acid