Study of Blood Serum Biochemical Profile and Pathological Changes in Haemonchosis Experimentally Induced in Goats

Abstract

Haemonchus contortus (H. contortus) parasite causes various functional derangements in the host body. This experimental study was established to appraise the remedial effect of Balanites aegyptiaca fruit’s ethanolic extract (BAF-EE) on experimentally induced haemonchosis in goats. Blood serum biochemical parameters and pathological changes were perused. Twelve male goats were randomly divided into 4 equal groups, G1 (infected-untreated), G2 (infected- BAF-EE treated), G3 (infected-albendazole treated) and G4 (uninfected-BAF-EE treated). Experimental infection was conducted with a single oral dose of 10x3 infective third larval stage (L3) of H. contortus at 0-time, whereas treatment with BAF-EE and albendazole was given at a single oral dose of 9g and 5mg/kg body wieght respectively in the 5th week post infection (PI). Blood samples were drawn on zero time, 3rd week PI and then biweekly till the 9th week for serum biochemical analyses. At the end of the experiment, all animals were slaughtered to estimate histopathological alterations in the abomasal and hepatic tissues. Serum biochemistry of infected animals showed significant depression of total serum protein (TP), albumin, albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and calcium (Ca) levels compared to uninfected goats. Significant elevation was observed in values of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (γGT), cholesterol, urea and creatinine of infected animals, while no significant differences were recorded in levels of inorganic phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sodium (Na), chloride (Cl) and total iron binding capacity (TIBC). Histopathological studies conducted on abomasa of infected-untreated animals revealed inflammation, necrosis, petechial hemorrhages and intense cellular infiltration. Liver showed bile duct hyperplasia, degeneration of hepatocytes and cell infiltration. Histopathological alterations in tissues of infected – treated animals were lower in intensity than those of infected-untreated goats. Results of the present experiment demonstrated that BAF-EE has an anti-parasitic and hepatoprotective effects as well as it improves serum biochemical alterations and oxidative stress in goats infected with H. contortus parasite. The present findings nominate the use of this plant as a novel safe natural anthelmintic agent.