Alterations in serum enzyme profile of riverine buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) experimentally infected with Fasciola gigantica

Serum enzymes activity in riverine buffalo yearlings of the Murrah breed (200–250 kgs, aged 12–15 months), were weekly monitored during the clinical course of tropical fasciolosis. Eight animals were randomly assigned to infected (Gr-I) and healthy control (Gr-II) groups. Each animal in Gr-I was orally infected with single primary infection dose of viable 800 Fasciola gigantica metacercariae, whereas Gr-II animals served as uninfected healthy controls. The infected animals (Gr-I) sequentially developed recognized signs of tropical fasciolosis from 5^th week post-infection synchronous with in situ development of the flukes, and had mean in situ fluke population of 331.8±19.5 at necropsy. The progressively increased serum enzyme activity revealed two clearly demarcated stages: (a) remarkably elevated AST (40.8%) and ALT (140.0%) activity as compared to healthy controls in the host circulation during early prepatency, signifying traumatic lesions inflicted by the growing massive population of F. gigantica adolescercariae and, (b) marked with significant increase in serum AP concentration (107.9%), indicative of bile duct hyperplasia, cholangitis, periportal fibrosis and biliary obstruction from 6^th week post-infection onwards. The possible source of refluxed ALT and AST were traumatized hepatocytes and for AP were hepato-biliary lesions, incidental to F. gigantica during late prepatency and patent phase of the disease in Gr-I animals. None of healthy controls (Gr-II) developed signs suggestive of illness and had within normal range haematological values and serum enzyme profile. Diagnostic significance of these marker enzymes in disease forecasting and in time application of control strategies to combat tropical fasciolosis in buffaloes in endemic areas has been discussed.