Relationships between Oesophagostomum columbianum infection and the nutritional status of sheep. III. Serum and tissue protein changes

Abstract

The infection of young sheep with 1500 infective Oesophagostomum columbianum larvae was associated with the development of hypoproteinaemia resulting basically from a hypoalbuminaemia. Hypogammaglobulinaemia and hyperbetaglobulinaemia also developed in the infected animals. The concentration of α-globulin in the serum was not affected by infection. The extent and duration of the pathological features in the serum protein concentrations varied with the plane of nutrition. More severe effects were noted in sheep which had been maintained on a low protein ration and which exhibited severe protein depletion of the liver, spleen, and thymus, than in animals on a high protein ration. Within the low protein group the most severe depressions in serum protein concentrations resulted from infection with small multiple doses of larvae compared with the same total number given in a single dose.