Physiological Status, Haematocrite, Blood Mineral Plasma in Sheep Infected with Gastrointestinal Nematodes and Offered 50% Concentrate.

Abstract

Fourteen species of gastrointestinal nematodes may infect sheep and reduce their productivity. Haemonchur contorius is the main cause of anemia in sheep. with high prevalence level of about 80%. Commercial anthelmintic is expensive and its residue may create the problem. Evaluation of alternative methods to prevent infection of nematode is necessary. Nematode infection could be reduced by improvement of Feeding balance ration and early detection of early symptoms may reduce the intensity afnemalode infection. The present experiment was conducted to detennine physiological status. blood haematocrite and mineral Ca and Mg plasma of sheep infected by gastrointestinal nematodes and offered 50% concentrate with or without Zn supplementation. Thirty six of sheep having an average initial live weight of 12.06±1.7 kg were used in the present experiment. The sheep were grouped and allocated into three treatments: 8 sheep were in TO (control), 8 sheep were in TI (infected + 30 ppm Zn supplement), and 20 sheep were D (infected). Sheep were offered hay of Pennisetum purpureum and concentrate (50:50 dry matter basis) at rate of 4% oflive weight. Drinking water was offered ad libitum. At the heginning of the experiment, the sheep were treated with a commercial anthelmintic (toloxan®) at a dose of 5 mllhead. Sheep were infected by 5,000 L3 phase nematode larva conslstmg of 80% Haemonchus con/ortus. 9% Trichostrongylus. 6% Cooperia and 5% Oesophagostonum. On the day of 18th after infection. egg count per gram feces were detennined by McMaster method at sensitivity of 1:100. A complete randomized uuhalance design was used to compare the effect of treatments on physiological status, haematocrite, and Ca as well Mg plasma. used McMaster method. Reduction value (RY) of egg count per gram feces was calculated based on a formula as follows: RV ~ (1- (K1/P1*P2/K2))*100%. Result showed that nematode infection changed the physiological status of sheep fed ration which with or without Zn supplementation. Heart beat rate increased significantly (p<0.05) on TO compared with TI and D. Rectal temperature, respiratory rate, blood haematocrite, Ca and Mg plasma were not significantly altered by nematode infection. Key Words: nematode. mineral, physiology and hematocrite.