The serum glucose and beta-hydroxybutyrate levels in sheep with experimental Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica infection

Vet Parasitol. 2007 Feb 28;143(3-4):287-93. doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.09.001. Epub 2006 Oct 2.

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.

MeSH terms

  • 3-Hydroxybutyric Acid / blood*
  • Animals
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism*
  • Fasciola
  • Fasciola hepatica
  • Fascioliasis / blood
  • Fascioliasis / veterinary*
  • Glutamate Dehydrogenase / metabolism
  • Ketosis / etiology
  • Ketosis / veterinary
  • Liver / enzymology*
  • Nutritional Status
  • Parasite Egg Count / veterinary
  • Random Allocation
  • Sheep / growth & development
  • Sheep Diseases / blood*
  • Time Factors
  • Weight Gain*
  • gamma-Glutamyltransferase / metabolism

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Glutamate Dehydrogenase
  • gamma-Glutamyltransferase
  • 3-Hydroxybutyric Acid