English

Abstract

  This study determined the haematological changes due to the infection of fascioliasis in cattle. The haematological indices of blood samples collected from purposely selected Fasciola-infected and non-infected cattle were analyzed using standard methods. Statistical analysis revealed high significant differences between the packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb) and red blood cells (RBC) of infected and non-infected cattle (p<0.05). Significant differences existed between the white blood cells (WBC), mean cellular volume (MCV) and mean cellular haemoglobin (MCH) of both groups (p<0.05). No significant difference was observed between the mean cellular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) of the infected cattle and the control. There was notable reduction in PCV, Hb and RBC with increase in worm load and a multiple regression analysis revealed significant negative correlation between worm load and RBC, Hb and PCV with correlation coefficient values, r = -0.616, -0.592 and -0.615, respectively. Levels of neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes and lymphocytes increased progressively as worm load increased. Only basophils showed no change. Multiple regression analysis confirmed a statistically significant positive correlation between eosinophils and worm load (r = 0.575) and between neutrophils and worm load (r = 0.601). Lymphocytes had no significant positive correlation with worm load (r = 0.070), while monocytes had no significant negative correlation with worm load (r = - 0.062). The implications of the above findings are discussed.   Key words: Fascioliasis, haematology, haemoglobin, neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes.