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

The influence of Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica infection on serum glucose and P-hydroxybutyrate (P-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 E hepatica (n=9) and the other (n=4) as uninfected control. A second group consisting of a subgroup 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 E 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 P-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. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.