Hepatic marker enzymes, biochemical parameters and pathological effects in lambs experimentally infected with Dicrocoelium dendriticum (Digenea)

Parasitol Res. 2004 Aug;93(5):344-55. doi: 10.1007/s00436-004-1128-2. Epub 2004 Jun 10.

Abstract

Hepatic enzymes and biochemical parameter values were analysed in the sera of 32 lambs: 12 infected with 1,000 Dicrocoelium dendriticum metacercariae, 12 with 3,000 and eight controls. Blood samples were collected at intervals of 30 days from day 0 post-infection (p.i.). Half the lambs in each group were slaughtered on days 60 and 180 p.i, respectively. A histopathological and ultrastructural study was carried out on the liver, gall bladder and hepatic lymph nodes of all animals. A minute increase was detected in the bilirubin (7%) and albumin (3%) values in the infected lambs (with 30-2,063 worms) in comparison with those of the controls. The hepatic enzyme values did increase, above all aspartate aminotransferase (19%) and alanine aminotransferase (22%), mainly in the lambs tested with 3,000 metacercariae (38% and 48%, respectively). The increase was significant 60 days p.i. The severity of the lesions was closely associated with the parasite burden.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alanine Transaminase / blood
  • Animals
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases / blood
  • Bile Ducts / pathology
  • Bile Ducts / ultrastructure
  • Bilirubin / blood
  • Blood Glucose / analysis
  • Dicrocoeliasis / blood
  • Dicrocoeliasis / parasitology
  • Dicrocoeliasis / pathology
  • Dicrocoeliasis / veterinary*
  • Dicrocoelium / isolation & purification*
  • Dicrocoelium / pathogenicity
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gallbladder / pathology
  • Liver / enzymology
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver / ultrastructure
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Serum Albumin / analysis
  • Sheep
  • Sheep Diseases / blood*
  • Sheep Diseases / parasitology
  • Sheep Diseases / pathology
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Serum Albumin
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases
  • Alanine Transaminase
  • Bilirubin