Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in the blood serum concentration of some biochemical parameters and lipid-soluble vitamin levels in the goats naturaly infested with lice and Trichostrongylidae sp. before and after treatment with moxidectin and effects of moxidectin treatment on these blood parameters. In this study, 20 hair goats naturaly infected with lice (Linognathus africanus) and Trichostrongylidae sp. and 10 healthy hair goats (control) were used as material. Blood samples were collected from infested and control groups. Serum samples were seperated and analysed for biochemical parameters with autoanalyser and some vitamins with high performance liquid chromatography. Animals in infested group were treated with ecto-endoparasitic drug (moxidectin) and in 8 and 15 days after treatment blood samples were again collected to determine some vitamins and biochemical parameters. As a results, concentrations of retinol, sodium, potassium, calcium and albumin were lower (p<0.05) and activity of alanine aminotransferase was higher (p<0.05) in infected goats than in the controls. There was no statistically significant difference in the concentration of vit D₃, tocopherol, total protein, glucose and activity of aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase between infected and control group.

INTRODUCTION

Blood parameters of haematological and biochemical of the animal exposed to both ectoparasites and endoparasites revealed significant differencies. In studies conducted on animal with endoparasites, it was reported that levels of serum protein, serum globulin, seruloplasmine, vitamin A, C, E and B₁₂ together with some enzyme and mineral changed significantly. Moreover, this studies reported that parasitic infestations predispose animal to vitamin and mineral deficiency (Deger et al., 1997).

External parasitic infestations cause severe health problems in livestock that may be accompanied by a decrease in some blood biochemical parameters, blood trace elements and mineral levels (Deger et al., 2002; Aatish et al., 2007). Lice can be a problem for goat producers, especially during the winter months. Lice infestations have been associated with blood loss (Shemanchuk et al., 1960), reduced calf birth weights (Khan and Schaalje, 1985), behavioural changes such as excessive scratching and decreased weight gains (Gibney et al., 1985; Devaney et al., 1992). Heavy louse infestations may cause pruritus, alopecia, excoriatio and self-wounding (Colebrook and Wall, 2004), uneasiness, anorexia and cachexia (Dede et al., 2003). Severe infestation with sucking lice may cause anaemia, which was severe enough to be the cause of death (Shemanchuk et al., 1960; Otter et al., 2003). Changes in some haemotological parameters (erythrocyte count, mean cell volume, hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, leukocyte counts, serum albumin and globulin concentration, total serum protein) in animals with lice were reported (Davisa and Williams, 1986; Devaney et al., 1992; Otter et al., 2003).

Moxidectin is a synthetically-derived macrocyclic lactone molecule from the milbemycin group that is commercially available in several formulations to treat parasitic infections and ectoparasite infestations of cattle, dogs, horses, sheep and goats (Burgu and Karaer, 2005).

The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in the blood serum concentration of some biochemical parameters and lipid-soluble vitamin levels in the goats naturaly infested with lice and Trichostrongylidae sp. before and after treatment with moxidectin and effects of moxidectin treatment on these blood parameters.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, 20 hair goats naturaly infected with lice (Linognathus africanus) and Trichostrongylidae sp. and 10 healthy hair goats (control) were used as material.

Goats were examined for the presence of ectoparasites and gathered ectoparasites from them were preserved in 70% alcohol. Identification and preparation of ectoparasites were made according to related literature (Tuff, 1977; Palma, 1978).

Goats faeces were analysed with fulleborn’s flotation technique for cestode, nematode eggs and protozooa oocyst, by sedimentation technique for trematode egg and by baermann wethzel technique for protostrongylidae larvae. Egg counts in the 1 g fecal samples were also determined by the modified McMaster technique. Moreover, faecal cultures were done, to differentiate at genus level of trichostrongylid nematodes. Blood smears were prepared from animals to investigate blood protozoa.

Infested animals were treated with moxidectin. This group was subcutaneously administered 0.2 mg kg^-1 of moxidectin (Cydectin, Fako).

Blood samples were collected from infested and control grups. Serum samples were seperated and analysed for biochemical parameters (Sodium, potassium, calcium, total protein, albumin, glucose, Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) by autoanalyser (Modular PP, Roche/Hitachi, Japan) and some vitamins (retinol, tocopherol and vit D₃) by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC, Agilent-1100, Gemany) method (Zaspel and Csallany, 1983; Reynolds and Judd, 1984; Miller and Yang, 1985). After treatment with moxidectin, blood samples of goats were again collected to determine some biochemical parameters and vitamin levels in 8 and 15 days of treatment. The results were analysed using Duncan’s test.

RESULTS

According to ectoparasitological examination, goats were found to be infested heavily with Linognathus africanus. In the examination of parasitological faecal analyses, Nematodirus, Ostertagia and Tricostrongylus sp. were observed in parasitological faecal examination. The mean Fecal Egg Count (FEC) in goats infected with trichostrongylid nematodes was 1185±68 g. There were no Trematode, cestode eggs and protostrongylidae larvae in faeces. Smilarly no blood parasities were found in blood smear. In clinical examination, hair loss, reducing wool quality, cachexia, itching, uneasines, lack of appetite were present in the infested goats.

Vitamins and biochemical parameters in infested and control group before and after treatment are given in Table 1.

Retinol, sodium, potassium, calcium and albumin concentrations, decreased significantly (p<0.05), while the activity of ALT increased (p<0.05). There was no significant change in the levels of vit D₃, tocopherol, total protein, glucose and activity of AST and ALP in any group.

Table 1:	Some vitamins and biochemical parameters in goats infested with lice and Trichostrongylidae sp. before and after treatment and control group
*: Different than control (p<0.05); a: different than 15 day (p<0.05); b: different than before treatment (p<0.05)

DISCUSSION

Because of deterioration of intercelular permeability in Trichostrongylosis, pepsinogen transfers to blood and blood plasmae proteins transfers to abomasum lumen. Loss of plasma protein cause hypoalbuminemi and this brings about weakening in muscle and decrease in wool quality, affecting metabolism (Soulsby, 1986). Some haematological and biochemical parameters (total protein, albumin) and some trace elements (Cu, Fe) levels were observed to be in a significant decrease in sheep with gastrointestinal parasites (Kozat et al., 2006). While albumin levels increased, total protein, globulin, amilaz, chlorine levels in animals with Trichostrongylosis. Decreases in of phosphorus and magnesium concentrations and increases in levels vitamin B₁₂ were not significant in these animals (Ayaz et al., 2007). No significant differences in serum albumin concentration of calves infested with low lewels of lice and internal nematodes were detected, while significant increases in total serum protein concentration were detected (Devaney et al., 1992). In this study, decreases in levels of albumin in infested goats were found to be statistically important. Moreover, total protein levels in the infested goats were lower than uninfested goats but this decrease was not found statistically important. In the animals, undergoing this treatment strategy, the total protein levels increased in 15th day and such an increase was found to be statistically significant compared to the controls. Weakening in muscle and decrease in wool quality in the infested goats may be depended on reduction in albumin level.

The deficiency of macro elements with parasitic diseses causes clinical disorder, loss of yield and death. Because of inflammation in gut wall in gastro-intestinal parasitosis, absorption of some vitamins and minerals was changed (Soulsby, 1986). Ayaz et al. (2007) reported that levels of potassium and calcium in sheep with independently infected tricostrongylosis, fasciolasis, dicroceliasis, metastrongyliosis and Hydatic kist did not show a statistically significant change. In the same study, it was found that although, levels of sodium in sheep with metastrongyliosis were higher than controls, sheep with tricostrongylosis, fasciolasis, dicroceliasis, metastrongyliosis and Hydatic kist did not show a statistically significant difference. It was reported that calcium, copper, zinc and phospor concentrations in lice infested sheep and goats were significantly lower than uninfested animals (Deger et al., 2002; Dede et al., 2003). In this study, calcium, sodium and potassium concentrations in infested goats were lower (p<0.05) than uninfested animals and decrease in calcium levels is coherent with some studies mentioned above.

In a study conducted on sheep infected with Fasciola sp. and Trichostrongylidae sp., it is reported that this parasities bring about oxidative stress accordingly lipid peroxidation and concentratation of antioxidant matter preventing destructive effect of this decrease (Dede et al., 2000). It was reported that vitamin E levels decline in goats infected with parasites (Trichostrongylidae sp. + Protostrongylidae sp. + Eimeria sp. + Babesia sp.), while vitamin C, retinol and β-carotene concentrations were not statistically different between groups (Dede et al., 2002). In addition, a decrease in the concentration of vitamin A in animals infected with parasites has been reported (Das et al., 1996; Hautvast et al., 1998). Deger et al. (2001) found that concentration of vitamin E and β-carotene in sheep infected with babesiosis were lower than uninfected sheep and concentration of vitamin C and retinol did not show a statistically significant change. In this study, we observed that concentration of retinol was lower (p<0.05) in goats infested with Linognathus africanus and Tricostrongylidae sp. than the control group although there was no statisticaly significant difference in the concentration of vit D₃ and tocopherol. These findings indicate that the concentrations of vitamins mentioned above are affected by the types of parasites and the hosts they invade.

The differences in activities of some liver enzymes (AST, ALT, GGT, ALP) in serum is generally indicator of some pathological changes of tissue and organ (Karagul et al., 2000). In this study, although, ALP and AST activities did not show a statistically significant change, ALT activity in infested goats was higher than that of control group. But this ALT activity was in normal values for goats, according to the references of Karagul et al. (2000). In this study, the finding that liver enzymes did not increase significantly is an indication that both these parasites and the drug used did not have any impact on liver.

It is reported that both trichostrongylosis and lice infestations are prevalent of a high percentage in goats in the world and Turkey (Dumanli et al., 1995; Akkaya, 1998; Kusiluka et al., 1998; Mazyad and Helmy, 2001). As a result of patological disturbance occured by gastro-intestinal parasites, disorders in feed consumption, protein metabolism and liquid balance depending on absorption defect in bowels (Soulsby, 1986). External parasitic infestations are a cause of severe health problems in livestock that may be accompanied by alteration in the blood parameters such a decrease in blood trace element, mineral levels (Deger et al., 2002; Aatish et al., 2007) and blood loss (Shemanchuk et al., 1960). Especially, decreases in albumin levels cause loss of efficiency and weakening of immune system of body. Pandita and Ram (1990) found that digestibility coefficients for nutrients (except nitrogen-free extract), nutrient balances, blood constituents (except white blood cells) and weight gains were significantly higher in non-infested goats than goats infested with ectoparasites (tick, mites and lice). When endoparasitic and ectoparasitic effects combine in the same animal these problems become more complicated. Devaney et al. (1992) also indicated that low density louse infestations (peak louse index of 125; counted on 122 sites) did not have an impact on weight gain, but that there was an interaction between louse infestations and gastrointestinal nematode infections that influenced weight gain.

Although, there is a lot of study about effect on blood parameters of endoparasitic and ectoparasitic diseases in animals, changes in the vitamin and biochemicol parameters caused by especially louse in goats has not been examined thoroughly.

Consequently, alterations in some vitamins and biochemical parameters in goats infested with L. africanus and Tricostrongylidae sp. were investigated and statistically evaluated. According to the results, concentrations of retinol, sodium, potassium, calcium and albumin were lower and concentrations of ALT were higher in infected goats than in the controls. These blood parameters went back to normal levels to take into consideration both parameters in the control group and levels quoted references for goats after the infested goats were treated with moxidectin. There was no istatisticaly significant difference in the concentration of vit D₃, tocopherol, total protein, glucose, AST, ALP between infected and control group.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The authors would like to thank Dr. Semiha Dede for her opinion on the biochemical subject.