Haematobiochemical analysis of sheep and goats with gastrointestinal parasitism

Gastrointestinal (GI) parasitism in sheep and goats primarily causes severe anaemia and leads to production loss. The aim of the study was to analyse the haematobiochemical profiles of the small ruminants infected with GI parasites. Total of 125 blood samples were collected from sheep (55) and goats (70) suspected for GI parasitic infection from different places including the large animal clinical unit, Department of Clinics, Madras Veterinary College, Perambur slaughter house, Chennai and private farms at Kanchipuram and Thiruvallur districts of Tamil Nadu and analyzed. The results were compared with the blood samples collected from 20 apparently healthy animals (8 sheep and 12 goats). The values of haemoglobin, volume of packed red cell (VPRC), and total erythrocyte count (TEC) were significantly decreased and values of TLC and eosinophils were significantly increased in infected animals compared to apparently healthy animals. The values of total protein, albumin and glucose were significantly decreased and values of AST, ALT and total bilirubin were significantly increased in infected animals compared to apparently healthy animals. Similarly, increased AST, ALT and total bilirubin were observed in infected animals compared to apparently healthy animals. From this study, it was concluded that low level of Hb, VPRC and TEC was observed in the sheep and goats with GI parasitism than the apparently healthy animals.