Anaemia, Serum Iron Concentrations and δ-Aminolevulinate Dehydratase Activity in Laying Hens Infected Naturally by Salmonella Gallinarum.
The aim of this study was to evaluate anaemia, serum iron concentrations and δ-aminolevulinate dehydratase (ALA-D) activity in laying hens infected naturally by Salmonella Gallinarum and having severe hepatic lesions. Liver and serum samples were collected from 27 laying hens (20 infected and seven uninfected). The δ-ALA-D activity, haematocrit and serum iron concentrations were evaluated. There were significant decreases in δ-ALA-D activity, haematocrit and serum iron concentrations (P <0.01) in birds infected by S. Gallinarum when compared with uninfected birds. There was a positive correlation (P <0.001) between serum iron concentration, haematocrit (r(2) = 0.82) and δ-ALA-D activity (r(2) = 0.75). A positive correlation was also observed between δ-ALA-D activity and haematocrit (r(2) = 0.78; P <0.01). Liver samples showed moderate focal coagulative necrosis associated with infiltration of lymphoplasmacytic cells, macrophages and heterophils. The anaemia in the infected hens may be related to reduction in δ-ALA-D activity and serum iron concentrations, since both are important for haemopoiesis.
Centro Universitário Franciscano, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
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Machado
Department of Animal Science, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Chapecó, Brazil. Electronic address: aleksandro_ss@yahoo.com.br.
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MM
Boiago
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
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GM
do Carmo
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
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Bottari
Department of Animal Science, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Chapecó, Brazil.
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Araujo
Graduate Programme in Animal Science, UDESC, Chapecó, Brazil.
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J
Giuriatti
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
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VM
Morsch
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
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MR
Schetinger
Graduate Programme in Veterinary Science, UDESC, Lages, Brazil.
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RA
Casagrande
Graduate Programme in Veterinary Science, UDESC, Lages, Brazil.
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CS
Wisser
Department of Animal Science, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Chapecó, Brazil.
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LM
Stefani
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil.
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MS
Alves
Department of Animal Science, Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UDESC), Chapecó, Brazil. Electronic address: aleksandro_ss@yahoo.com.br.
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Da Silva
D000740:Anemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D005260:Female; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D012481:Salmonella Infections, Animal / Q000150:complications* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D019779:Salmonella enterica
D007501:Iron; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase
Salmonella; anaemia; iron; δ-ALA-D