Effects of parasitic helminths and ivermectin treatment on clinical parameters in the European wild boar (Sus scrofa).
Limited information exists on serum biochemistry and haematology of the European wild boar, and few correlations have been found between parasitic burden and clinical parameters in this species. Naturally infected wild boars were experimentally treated to study the effect of nematode parasites and ivermectin treatment on phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) skin reaction and haematological and serum biochemical parameters. White blood cells decreased in untreated wild boars, whereas triglyceride, lactate and creatinine concentrations increased in ivermectin-treated wild boars, and total protein and aspartate aminotransferase activity increased in both groups. Band neutrophils variation was positively correlated with the number of total adult parasites. Band neutrophils, creatinine and total protein variations were negatively correlated with both total egg counts and Metastrongylus eggs per gram variations. Alkaline phosphatase activity showed a negative correlation with Ascaris sp. eggs. The PHA skin reaction was positively correlated with the number of total adult parasites in untreated wild boars and with Metastrongylus sp. eggs of all wild boars at time 0. Two models including leukocytic and serum biochemical parameters were also highly correlated with the variation of Metastrongylus sp. eggs. Clinical parameters were thus in our study affected by helminth parasitism in the European wild boar, particularly those related to nutrients uptake, physical condition and immune response. Therefore, they could be useful in studies on subclinical effects of parasites, and parasitic burden must be considered when assessing the physical condition of European wild boars through haematological and serum biochemical parameters.
López-Olvera
Jorge R
JR
Departamento de Medicina y Cirugía Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales y de la Salud, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, Avda. del Seminario s/n, 46113, Moncada, Valencia, Spain. elrebeco@yahoo.es
Höfle
Ursula
U
Vicente
Joaquín
J
Fernández-de-Mera
Isabel G
IG
Gortázar
Christian
C
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000969:Antinematodal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001200:Ascaris; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000166:cytology; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008681:Metastrongyloidea; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000469:parasitology*; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D000969:Antinematodal Agents; D001798:Blood Proteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D019344:Lactic Acid; D007559:Ivermectin; D003404:Creatinine; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase