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Further Observations on the Packed Cell Volume and Haemoglobin Concentration in Cattle Naturally Infected with Fasciola Gigantica

M. M. R. Howlader
Department of Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Department of Anatomy and Histology', Sylhet Government Veterinary College, Tilagor, Sylhet-3100, Bangladesh

S. Begum
Department of Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Department of Anatomy and Histology', Sylhet Government Veterinary College, Tilagor, Sylhet-3100, Bangladesh

Kh. N. Islam
Department of Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Department of Anatomy and Histology', Sylhet Government Veterinary College, Tilagor, Sylhet-3100, Bangladesh

M. A. Hail
Department of Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Department of Anatomy and Histology', Sylhet Government Veterinary College, Tilagor, Sylhet-3100, Bangladesh

M. G Hossain
Department of Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Department of Anatomy and Histology', Sylhet Government Veterinary College, Tilagor, Sylhet-3100, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The changes on packed cell volume ( PCV ) and haemoglobin ( Hb ) in zebu cattle infected with Fasciola gigantica were studied in two age and two season groups during the period from November 1999 to June 2000. Eighty-eight selected cattle were divided into two age groups, 2.5 to 5.5 years ( n = 44; 22 infected & 22 uninfected control ) and 6.0 to 9.0 years ( n = 44; 22 + 22 cattle ), and similarly two seasons, winter ( n = 22 + 22 ) and summer ( n = 22 + 22 ) were used for this study. Blood samples were collected in glass vials contained EDTA anticoagulant for each age group of all animals in summer and winter seasons. PCV was determined using microhematocrit and Hb concentration by cyanomethemoglobin methods. The PCV of F. gigantica infected cattle were significantly ( p < 0.01 ) lower than the non-infected control animals. The average PCV obtained were 24.43% and 32.33% for F. gigantica infected and non-infected cattle, respectively. The Hb concentrations of infected cattle were significantly ( p < 0.01) lower than the non-infected control animals. The average Hb values found were 7.59 and 10.13 g% for F. gigantica infected and non-infected cattle, respectively. There was no significant effect of age and season on the values of PCV and Hb concentrations in infected and non-infected cattle.

Keywords: Zebu cattle, Fasciola gigantica, Packed cell volume, Haemoglobin concentration

Location: Department of Anatomy and Histology', Sylhet Government Veterinary College, Sylhet, Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-11-1999

End Date: 00-06-2000

Program Area: Animal Health and Management

Commodity: Cattle

Objectives:

To determine the Further Observations on the Packed Cell Volume and Haemoglobin Concentration in Cattle Naturally Infected with Fasciola Gigantica

Methodology:

Eighty eight zebu cattle of two age groups of 2.5 to 5.5 and 6.0 to 9.0 years old were used in this study during the period from November 1999 to June 2000. Faecal samples were collected from a large number of zebu cattle of the study area to select the F. gigantica infected and control animals. A total of 44 zebu cattle having F. gigantica infection with faecal egg count above 400 epg (egg per gram of faeces) were included as infected group. While a total of 44 cattle apparently healthy and negative for F. gigantica and other parsites on microscopjc faecal examination were included as non-infected control group. Faecal samples were collected directly from the rectum of each animal at fortnightly interval for a period of one year and examined using Stoll's ova counting technique. Number of egg per gram of faeces was determined by examining five slides for each sample that were prepared with the emulsified faecal solution. The absence of helminth parasite egg for three subsequent fortnightly faecal examinations was considered as gastro-intestinal parasite free animals. For each age group 22 blood samples were collected in summer ( March-June ) and winter ( November-February ) seasons. About 5 ml blood was collected from the jugular vein in glass vials containing EDTA as anticoagulant. Each blood sample collected from the study animals was analyzed in triplicates for PCV and Hb concentrations. The PCV was determined following microhematocrit and Hb by cyanmethemoglobin methods (Coles, 1980). A two-factor factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design was done. Season and age group were two factors, each with two levels. Comparisons based on the least significant difference at 5% were done between the means of infected and control group in each season and age group.

Source of Information: Bang!. J. Vet. Med. (2004). 2 (2): 125-127

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Achievement/Findings:

The results of this study are in agreement with the findings of Sinclair (1962) who reported that a small number of F. hepatica in sheep did not produce clinical signs of adverse effect on the rate of live weight gain in the early stage of infection. The anemia that developed progressed and depressed the productivity of infected animals in the longer period when there are chronic infections. In an earlier study, Sinclair (1962) found that young flukes did not produce anemia in sheep as they live on liver tissues during their early development and migration. Cameron (1951) observed that the parasite produced a toxin which caused damage to the red blood cells, but Urquhart et al. (1996) claimed that a sheep weighing 20 kg which infected with 200 flukes would loss 40 ml of blood per day which would develop a progressive type of anemia in the infected animals. In the present study, however, the PCV values showed a moderately lower degree of anemia and this could be attributed to a loss of smaller amount of blood. In this study, all the infected animals were found suffering from chronic infections. The lower PCV and Hb values could be attributed to an abnormal loss of red blood cells due to the feeding habits of the flukes or to an excessive destruction of the red blood cells caused by some hemolyzing factors produced by the flukes. Some researchers reported that blood loss caused by the feeding activities of the flukes as the main factor causing anemia in fascioliasis ( Stephenson, 1947; Jennings et al., 1956 ). However, Sinclair (1962) found that anemia in fascioliasis was due to some other factors. A few studies showed that the flukes caeca contained host's blood ( Pearson, 1963; Todd and Ross, 1966 ). The Hb concentrations of zebu cattle of infected groups showed significantly ( p <0.05 ) lower values than the animals in control group. This could be attributed to a loss of whole blood due to fascioliasis. Dargie et al. (1967) reported that a loss of whole blood took place into the gastro-intestinal tract of fluke infected animals. From this study, it may be concluded that chronic F. gigantica infection significantly lower the PCV and Hb concentrations in zebu cattle.

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