Trichostrongylus colubriformis infection in Santa Inês lambs: impact on feed digestibility, blood markers, and nitrogen balance

Author(s)

Tairon Pannunzio Dias-Silva ^[1] ; Adibe Luiz Abdalla Filho ^[2] ; Luciana Morita Katiki ^[3] ; Alessandro Francisco Talamini do Amarante ^[4] ; Adibe Luiz Abdalla ^[5] ; Helder Louvandini ^[6]

Affiliation

^[1] Universidade Federal do Piauí - Brasil

^[2] Universidade de São Paulo. Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura. Laboratório de Nutrição Animal - Brasil

^[3] Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento. Instituto de Zootecnia - Brasil

^[4] Universidade Estadual Paulista. Instituto de Biociências - Brasil

^[5] Universidade de São Paulo. Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura. Laboratório de Nutrição Animal - Brasil

^[6] Universidade de São Paulo. Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura. Laboratório de Nutrição Animal - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária; v. 29, n. 2 2020-05-18.

Abstract

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Trichostrongylus colubriformis infection on the hemato-biochemical parameters, feed digestibility, and nitrogen balance in Santa Inês lambs. Eighteen three-month-old Santa Ines castrated male lambs (16.9 ± 1.43 kg of body weight) were randomly distributed in two experimental treatments: infected with T. colubriformis (I, n = 9) and uninfected (U, n = 9). The I group received a total of 45,000 L3 larvae of T. colubriformis (5,000 infective larvae, three times per week, for three weeks). During the experimental period, blood, feed digestibility, and nitrogen balance were evaluated. The I lambs showed a reduction in erythrocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, and total proteins, as well as an increase in platelets and eosinophils compared to those in the U group (p < 0.05). With the exception of total protein content, these values were within the normal range for the species. Furthermore, lower dry matter and organic matter digestibility were observed in the I lambs (p = 0.08). The present findings highlight that T. colubriformis infection has the potential to impair some hemato-biochemical parameters as well as feed digestibility in lambs, which could affect their productivity. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/05023-1 - Phosphorus modeling in sheep submitted to experimental infection with Trichostrongylus colubriformis with the use of 32P
• Grantee: Tairon Pannunzio Dias e Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate