Hematological Profile of Sheep Experimentally Infested with Bovicola ovis

Abstract

Changes in some haemotological parameters (erythrocyte count, hematocrit values and leukocyte counts) in animals with lice infestation had been reported previously. In this regards, information on the effect of Bovicola ovis (B. ovis) infestation on hematological values under experimental condition in Ethiopian sheep is not available. A total of 12 animals divided into two groups of six animals each were used in the experiment. Animals in one group were infested with 500 lice (Bovicola ovis) per sheep collected from different donor animals and the other group served as a non-infested control. Each group was observed for a period of eight consecutive weeks. The present findings demonstrated that the mean parasite burden/10 cm2 of skin was 16 in infested group whereas the control group did not have any lice. Packed cell volume was not significantly different between the two groups and values were in the normal range. On the other hand total RBC count was significantly lower for the infested group (P<0.05). Comparison of the leukocyte counts between the two groups indicated that the total count and eosinophil levels were significantly elevated in the infested group (P<0.05). In conclusion, B. ovis infestation results not only skin damage but also causes systemic changes that may significantly alter the physiological and health status of infested animals.