Hematological and serum biochemical analyses in experimental caprine coccidiosis

Abstract

In order to provide information on hematological and biochemical changes in Eimeria arloingi infection, eighteen newborn kids were allocated to three equal groups. Two groups, A and B were inoculated with a single dose of 1 × 10³ and 1 × 10⁵ sporulated oocysts of E. arloingi, respectively. The third group C remained uninfected as control. Blood samples were collected from jugular vein before inoculation as control and at 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 days post inoculation (DPI). Total erythrocyte and total leukocyte counts, hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV) and differential leukocyte counts were determined. Serum biochemical parameters including total protein (TP), albumin, chloride (Cl^–), sodium (Na⁺), potassium (K⁺), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) were measured. All infected animals showed symptoms of clinical coccidiosis including diarrhea and oocyst excretion after the prepatent period that varied from 16 to 18 days after inoculation. The oocysts output did not stop until the end of the experiment. The diarrhea was associated with a reduction in ALP activity, increases in PCV and Hb and decreases in Na⁺, Cl^– and K⁺. No significant differences were found in AST, ALT, GGT, albumin and TP during 42 DPI. There was no hepatic damage.