1Department of Veterinary Biochemistry, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar–125 004, India.
2Department of Veterinary Parasitology, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar–125 004, Haryana.
*Corresponding author: E-mail: ns@hau.ernet.in
During Theileria annulata infection indirect losses of essential body nutrients can be caused by their accelerated metabolism or excretion. Also some abnormalities in the utilization and excretion of copper in theileriosis have been reported. Therefore, to know the changes in the copper status of calves in response to Theileriosis, two groups (Gp.I - infected; Gp.II - control) of six cross-bred male calves of 4–6 months old were used. Concentrations of copper in blood, plasma and tissues were estimated on Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The infected animals showed clinical symptoms like fever, anorexia, respiratory distress and recumbancy and peak parasitaemias ranged from 14 to 85 per cent and piroplasms were first seen between days 11 and 13 post-infection. With the progression of disease, haemoglobin and haematocrit decreased significantly. However, the blood copper concentrations did not exhibit changes due to Theileriosis. Also liver, spleen and heart copper concentrations were within normal range. It appears that T. annulata is not interfering with the host's copper metabolism. Therefore, being normal copper reserves of the liver of infected animals, there seems no advantage of copper supplementation in animals suffering from T. annulata infection.
