title: Influence of experimental infection by Haemonchus contortus on acetylcholinesterase activity in lymphocytes of lambs.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in lymphocytes of lambs experimentally infected by Haemonchus contortus. A total of 14 healthy lambs were used, divided into two groups of seven animals each. Group A (negative control) represented the uninfected animals, and Group B (positive control) was formed by animals infected with 15,000 larvae of H. contortus. Blood was drawn on the days 15, 45 and 75 post-infection (PI) in order to perform the white blood cells (WBC) count, as well as the evaluation of AChE activity in lymphocytes. Parasitological stool exam (eggs per gram of feces - EPG) was performed on the same days to follow up the evolution of the infection. On day 15 PI it was verified negative EPG; however, on days 45 and 75 PI it was observed positive EPG only in the animals of group B. In the three evaluated periods was observed a lower number of leukocytes, associated with decreased lymphocytes and neutrophils in lambs infected by this gastrointestinal nematodes. Lambs infected with H. contortus showed significant (P<0.01) lower AChE activity in lymphocytes compared uninfected. Statistically, there was a positive correlation (P<0.05) between AChE activity in lymphocytes and number of lymphocytes (r=0.69). The lymphocytes are cells with direct participation in the cholinergic system; therefore, based on these results, it can be concluded that the experimental infection with H. contortus influences the number of lymphocytes, and consequently the AChE activity in these cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Brazil. Electronic address: tonin.aat@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Alexandre A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Tonin
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Brazil. Electronic address: aleksandro_ss@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Aleksandro S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Da Silva
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Endocrinology and Metabology. Program of Post-Graduation in Veterinary Medicine, UFSM, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andressa S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Schafer
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Endocrinology and Metabology. Program of Post-Graduation in Veterinary Medicine, UFSM, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adelina R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Aires
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, UFSM, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camila B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Program of Post-Graduation in Toxicological Biochemistry, UFSM, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zanini
authors.affiliation: Program of Post-Graduation in Toxicological Biochemistry, UFSM, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria R C
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Schetinger
authors.affiliation: Program of Post-Graduation in Toxicological Biochemistry, UFSM, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vera M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Morsch
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Brazil.
authors.forename: Sonia T A
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, UFSM, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvia G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Endocrinology and Metabology. Program of Post-Graduation in Veterinary Medicine, UFSM, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marta L R
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Leal
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000097:blood*; D000818:Animals; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D006188:Haemonchiasis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D010270:Parasite Egg Count / Q000662:veterinary; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase
keywords: Acetylcholine; Helminths; Sheep; WBC