Investigation of selected biochemical parameters in sheep naturally infected with theileriosis

Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate<br><br>the effect of sheep theileriosis on some plasma biochemical<br><br>parameters. Thirty adult fat-tailed sheep suffering from<br><br>theileriosis were selected on the basis of clinical examination<br><br>and positive peripheral blood smears, and 20 clinically<br><br>healthy animals without parasitaemia (according to the<br><br>blood smears) served as control. Biochemical analysis of<br><br>infected cases revealed a significant (P&lt;0.05) decrease in<br><br>blood glucose and albumin, in addition to a non-significant<br><br>decrease in total protein and creatinine concentrations when<br><br>compared to the uninfected group. On the other hand, a<br><br>significant increase of urea, total bilirubin, aspartate<br><br>aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase, in addition to<br><br>a non-significant rise in triglyceride, cholesterol, uric acid,<br><br>alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and creatine<br><br>kinase levels were found in the infected group in<br><br>comparison to the controls. This study concluded that<br><br>theileriosis in sheep was associated with some alterations in<br><br>blood parameters which could be useful in the diagnosis of<br><br>ovine theileriosis.