<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Objective of the work was to study a potential association between trematode infections in pregnant ewes and concentrations β-hydroxybutyrate, which is a ketone body found in animals with pregnancy toxaemia. After administration of a long-acting nematocide, 80 pregnant sheep, infected with trematodes, were allocated as follows; primigravidae ewes in group P-A remained untreated and in group P-B were given netobimin; multigravidae ewes in group M-A remained untreated, in group M-B were given netobimin and in group M-C were given rafoxanide. We collected faecal samples for trematode epg counting and blood samples for measurement of β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations. Mean faecal epg counts of D. dendriticum and F. hepatica decreased significantly after netobimin administration; mean faecal epg counts of F. hepatica, but not of D. dendriticum, decreased significantly after rafoxanide administration. Between P-A and P-B, the difference in mean blood β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations was significant (P = 0.036) immediately after lambing. Between M-A or M-C and M-B, it was significant (P ≤ 0.002) 28 days after trematocide administration and immediately after lambing; between M-A and M-C, no significant difference was evident. Immediately after lambing, mean blood β-hydroxybutyrate concentration in primiparous/multiparous ewes with Dicrocoelium faecal output ≤150 epg was 0.21/0.64 mmol L−1, respectively, and in primiparous/multiparous ewes with Dicrocoelium faecal output >150 epg was 0.40/0.93 mmol L−1, respectively (P = 0.704/&lt;0.001, respectively). Mean blood β-hydroxybutyrate concentration in group P-C/M-C ewes with Fasciola faecal output of &lt;16/&lt;30 epg was 0.47/0.68 mmol L−1, respectively; that in group P-C/M-C ewes with Fasciola faecal output of ≥16/≥30 epg was 0.56/0.85 mmol L−1, respectively (P = 0.620/0.278, respectively). The results indicate that more trematode-infected adult ewes were found to have increased β-hydroxybutyrate blood concentrations and point out to a potential role of liver trematode infections in predisposing adult ewes to pregnancy toxaemia.</p></abstract>

Objective of the work was to study a potential association between trematode infections in pregnant ewes and concentrations β-hydroxybutyrate, which is a ketone body found in animals with pregnancy toxaemia. After administration of a long-acting nematocide, 80 pregnant sheep, infected with trematodes, were allocated as follows; primigravidae ewes in group P-A remained untreated and in group P-B were given netobimin; multigravidae ewes in group M-A remained untreated, in group M-B were given netobimin and in group M-C were given rafoxanide. We collected faecal samples for trematode epg counting and blood samples for measurement of β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations. Mean faecal epg counts of D. dendriticum and F. hepatica decreased significantly after netobimin administration; mean faecal epg counts of F. hepatica, but not of D. dendriticum, decreased significantly after rafoxanide administration. Between P-A and P-B, the difference in mean blood β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations was significant (P = 0.036) immediately after lambing. Between M-A or M-C and M-B, it was significant (P ≤ 0.002) 28 days after trematocide administration and immediately after lambing; between M-A and M-C, no significant difference was evident. Immediately after lambing, mean blood β-hydroxybutyrate concentration in primiparous/multiparous ewes with Dicrocoelium faecal output ≤150 epg was 0.21/0.64 mmol L−1, respectively, and in primiparous/multiparous ewes with Dicrocoelium faecal output >150 epg was 0.40/0.93 mmol L−1, respectively (P = 0.704/<0.001, respectively). Mean blood β-hydroxybutyrate concentration in group P-C/M-C ewes with Fasciola faecal output of <16/<30 epg was 0.47/0.68 mmol L−1, respectively; that in group P-C/M-C ewes with Fasciola faecal output of ≥16/≥30 epg was 0.56/0.85 mmol L−1, respectively (P = 0.620/0.278, respectively). The results indicate that more trematode-infected adult ewes were found to have increased β-hydroxybutyrate blood concentrations and point out to a potential role of liver trematode infections in predisposing adult ewes to pregnancy toxaemia.

Potential association between trematode infections and development of pregnancy toxaemia in sheep

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece

Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, 43100, Karditsa, Greece

Helminthologia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Objective of the work was to study a potential association between trematode infections in pregnant ewes and concentrations β-hydroxybutyrate, which is a...

Potential association between trematode infections and development of pregnancy toxaemia in sheep

Published Online: Feb 22, 2014

Page range: 161 - 166

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11687-013-0126-2

Keywords
Dicrocoelium, Fasciola, pregnancy toxaemia, risk factor, sheep, trematode, β-hydroxybuturate

© 2013 Institute of Parasitology, SAS, Košice, Slovakia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Potential association between trematode infections and development of pregnancy toxaemia in sheep

Published Online: Feb 22, 2014

Page range: 161 - 166

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11687-013-0126-2

KeywordsDicrocoelium, Fasciola, pregnancy toxaemia, risk factor, sheep, trematode, β-hydroxybuturate

© 2013 Institute of Parasitology, SAS, Košice, Slovakia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Dicrocoelium, Fasciola, pregnancy toxaemia, risk factor, sheep, trematode, β-hydroxybuturate