Abstract
Our study analyzed the parasitological status, antibody responses, and antioxidant parameters of lambs experimentally infected with a gastrointestinal nematode during the consumption of sainfoin pellets (SFPs) for 14 d. Twenty-four lambs infected with Haemonchus contortus were separated into two groups: untreated animals (control) and animals treated with SFPs (600 g dry matter/d). SFP treatment began on day (D) 30 post-infection. The number of eggs per gram (EPG) of feces was quantified on D18, D23, D26, D30, D33, D37, D40, and D44. The mean reductions in EPG on D40 and D44 were 33.6 and 36.7%, respectively. The number of abomasal worms was lower for the SFP than the control group (p < 0.05). SFP treatment did not significantly affect either the total or the local antibody response (p > 0.05). The blood activity of glutathione peroxidase was affected by the treatment (p < 0.022). Adult worms were selected for scanning electron microscopy after necropsy, but surface structures of adult H. contortus females did not differ between the groups. The treatment of lambs with SFPs directly affected the dynamics of infection, probably indirectly by mobilizing the antioxidant defensive system and antibody response thus improving animal resistance.
Highlights
The demand for animal products is growing worldwide with the increase of the human population
We predicted that lambs infected with H. contortus and treated with sainfoin pellets (SFPs) would have noticeable reductions in Fecal Egg Count (FEC) and total abomasal worm counts compared to the control lambs
Our results indicated that the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the blood decreased continually from the beginning of the SFP treatment (i.e., 30–37 d post-infection)
Summary
The demand for animal products is growing worldwide with the increase of the human population. Chemoprophylaxis is currently the most effective method of preventing severe losses in livestock caused by gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs). Among the GINs of small ruminants, the highly pathogenic Haemonchus contortus represents a major threat in animal husbandry. H. contortus is a common cause of production losses and even deaths in livestock due to its blood-sucking behavior and rapid reproduction [3]. Parasitism increases the demands on the resources of proteins and calories from the repair of damaged tissues and the production of immune cells and mediators of the immune response [4,5]. Controlling the intensity of parasitic infection can improve nutritional deficits and the overall health of the animal [7]
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