Blood and plasma parameters in growing pigs given high levels of Hyostrongylus rubidus larvae

Abstract

Clinical signs of anorexia, vomiting and in some cases slight diarrhoea were observed in pigs infected with 250 000 or more Hyostrongylus rubidus larvae. No significant change in the levels of plasma chloride, potassium or sodium ions occurred during the course of infection. An extra-renal uraemia developed in pigs infected with 350 000 larvae which showed severe clinical signs of hyostrongylosis. Plasma pepsinogen levels were elevated in growing pigs infected with 60 000, 200 000 and 350 000 larvae. Two distinct peaks of plasma pepsinogen activity were observed which correspond, respectively, with the period following larval invasion of the gastric mucosa and the period during which the adult worms were migrating onto the stomach surface. At all infection levels the second peak of plasma pepsinogen activity just prior to patency was higher than the first. No anaemia resulted from single infections with 250 000 and 350 000 larvae. Plasma iron values were significantly lower 15, 23, 25 and 30 days after infection in pigs infected with 500 000 larvae. Small amounts of blood were detected in the faeces of pigs given high levels of H. rubidus larvae during the period following invasion of the gastric glands and during the period of adult worm emergence onto the mucosal surface.