Histopathological and Haematological investigations on Nandus nandus (Ham.) parasitized by metacercariae of Clinostomum complanatum (Rudolphi, 1819)

The present investigation was carried out to study the effect of digenetic trematode, Clinostomum complanatum on histopathology and haematology of Nandus nandus. The body of the fluke is elongated with rounded ends measuring 5.13 – 8.40 mm in length and 2.20 – 3.24 mm in width. It was recovered from the branchial chamber, body cavity, liver, intestine and ovaries of Nandus nandus, showing the total prevalence of 42.8% and mean intensity of 2.13. Histopathological changes were observed mainly in the liver which were represented by loosening of hepatic tissue, eccentrically situated nuclei of hepatocytes and necrosis The haematological manifestation of the infected N. nandus showed marked decrease in the content of haemoglobin and RBC count, and increase in the count of lymphocytes and granuolocytes.