The serum glucose and β-hydroxybutyrate levels in sheep with experimental Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica infection

The influence of Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica infection on serum glucose and β-hydroxybutyrate (β-HOB) in sheep was evaluated. This was done by setting up two groups of sheep. The first group (n = 13) was split in two sub-groups, one experimentally infected with F. hepatica (n = 9) and the other (n = 4) as uninfected control. A second group consisting of a sub-group experimentally infected with F. gigantica (n = 9) the other sub-group (n = 6) left as uninfected control was also set up. The results of weight gain, parasitological and serum liver enzymes activity (glutamate dehydrogenase [GLDH] and gamma glutamyltransferase [γ-GT]) used in monitoring the infection showed that all infected animals developed fasciolosis. It was observed that a reduction in serum glucose levels was significantly lower (p < 0.05) in F. hepatica infected sheep than in uninfected control sheep starting from 5 weeks post-infection (wpi) to the end of the experiment. Similar reduction was recorded in F. gigantica infected sheep between 8 and 19 wpi. In contrast, serum β-HOB levels were elevated in F. hepatica infected sheep between 6 and 16 wpi and in F. gigantica infected sheep between 7 and 15 wpi. It would appear from these serum glucose and β-HOB levels that fasciolosis does lead to energy deficiency (low glucose) and ketosis (increased β-HOB). The decrease in serum glucose and increase in serum β-HOB levels in infected sheep may help in understanding the interaction between fasciolosis and nutritional status of infected ruminants especially in young growing animals.