Comparing serum and hepatic concentrations of iron, copper, and cobalt in healthy sheep and sheep with chronic fasciolosis

Abstract

Fasciolosis is one of the most important parasitic diseases of ruminants. This parasite causes liver dysfunction which may contribute to albumin synthesis and copper transferring to the liver and also reduces the elemental storage. Due to these reasons and to determine the effects of fasciolosis on serum and liver iron, copper, and cobalt status, the present study was conducted on 460 slaughtered sheep. During antemortem examination and after giving an identification number, blood samples were taken, and age, sex, and origin of animals were recorded. Visual inspection and palpation were performed on the liver to determine Fasciola infestation; then, liver samples were taken from 100 sheep (50 infested and 50 healthy ones), and the concentration of the mentioned minerals was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results indicated that liver iron, copper, and cobalt concentrations in healthy sheep (74.47, 32.95, and 0.13 ppm, respectively) were significantly higher than those in sheep with fasciolosis (36.78, 11.22, and 0.05 ppm, respectively) (P < 0.05). These findings may explain the role of hepatic injuries caused by fasciolosis on mineral status and also the role of minerals on parasite persistency.