title: The serum glucose and beta-hydroxybutyrate levels in sheep with experimental Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica infection.
abstract: The influence of Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica infection on serum glucose and beta-hydroxybutyrate (beta-HOB) in sheep was evaluated. This was done by setting up two groups of sheep. The first group (n=13) was split in two sub-groups, one experimentally infected with F. hepatica (n=9) and the other (n=4) as uninfected control. A second group consisting of a sub-group experimentally infected with F. gigantica (n=9) the other sub-group (n=6) left as uninfected control was also set up. The results of weight gain, parasitological and serum liver enzymes activity (glutamate dehydrogenase [GLDH] and gamma glutamyltransferase [gamma-GT]) used in monitoring the infection showed that all infected animals developed fasciolosis. It was observed that a reduction in serum glucose levels was significantly lower (p<0.05) in F. hepatica infected sheep than in uninfected control sheep starting from 5 weeks post-infection (wpi) to the end of the experiment. Similar reduction was recorded in F. gigantica infected sheep between 8 and 19 wpi. In contrast, serum beta-HOB levels were elevated in F. hepatica infected sheep between 6 and 16 wpi and in F. gigantica infected sheep between 7 and 15 wpi. It would appear from these serum glucose and beta-HOB levels that fasciolosis does lead to energy deficiency (low glucose) and ketosis (increased beta-HOB). The decrease in serum glucose and increase in serum beta-HOB levels in infected sheep may help in understanding the interaction between fasciolosis and nutritional status of infected ruminants especially in young growing animals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, P.O. Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia. ikphiri@uudial.zm
authors.forename: I K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Phiri
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Phiri
authors.forename: L J S
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Harrison
mesh_terms: D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid / Q000097:blood*; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D005209:Fasciola; D005210:Fasciola hepatica; D005211:Fascioliasis / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary*; D005969:Glutamate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D007662:Ketosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000662:veterinary; D011897:Random Allocation; D012756:Sheep / Q000254:growth & development; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors; D015430:Weight Gain; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D005969:Glutamate Dehydrogenase; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid