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The relationship between normocytic, hypochromic anaemia and iron concentration together with hepatic enzyme activities in cattle infected with Fasciola hepatica

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 March 2008

S. Lotfollahzadeh*
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
M. Mohri
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashad, Iran
Sh. Ranjbar Bahadori
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Garmsar azad University, Garmsar, Iran
M.R. Mokhber Dezfouly
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
P. Tajik
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
*
*Fax: +98 2166279080 E-mail: samadz@yahoo.com

Abstract

Erythrograms determined from whole blood analyses and serum analyses for aspartate aminotransferase (AST), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities, and iron concentration, were used in infected and uninfected cattle to determine the type of anaemia and degree of hepatic damage caused by Fasciola hepatica. Blood samples from 86 infected and 30 uninfected cattle were taken at slaughter. Haematological analyses revealed decreased levels of packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) in infected compared with uninfected cattle (P < 0.05). A decrease in the concentration of serum iron was also observed in infected cattle compared with uninfected cattle (P < 0.05). Significant increases in AST, GGT and ALP activities were observed in cattle infected with F. hepatica when compared with uninfected cattle (P < 0.05). It was concluded that the anaemia observed in cattle infected with F. hepatica is a normocytic, hypochromic anaemia and the most important aetiology of the anaemia is the chronic blood loss due to the blood-sucking activity of the adult flukes and leakage of blood from the bile duct to the intestine, which results in iron deficiency. The increased activities of serum enzymes indicated chronic hepatic and bile duct injuries associated with chronic infection with F. hepatica.

Type
Research Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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