Haemato-biochemical impact of naturally occurring gastrointestinal nematodes were studied under field conditions in 60 goats having strongyle egg count i.e. eggs per gram (EPG) >300. The goats were selected under two age groups, 30 in the age group of 3–6 months and another 30 in the age group of >6–12 months. Goats of each age group were randomly divided into two equal sub-groups and one sub-group of each age group was maintained with tactical subcutaneous dosing of doramectin @200 mg kg−1 body weight. The other two sub-groups were left untreated allowing them to harbour the infection. Blood and serum samples of 5–6 goats under each sub-group were collected on four occasions at monthly interval after giving first anthelmintic treatment. Gastrointestinal nematode infections had a significant (P < 0.01) impact on haematological parameters with decreased value of haemoglobin and packed cell volume in both the age groups, whereas total erythrocyte count value significantly (P < 0.01) decreased only in the older goats. The total leucocyte count value significantly (P <0.01) increased in younger goats compared to the older goats. Serum albumin level significantly (P < 0.01) declined but this was significant (P < 0.05 in younger goats and P < 0.01 in older goats) hyperglobulinaemia, which resulted in non-significant alteration in total serum protein level due to gastrointestinal nematode infection.
Goat, Gastrointestinal nematodes, Haemato-biochemical changes
