E-ADA Activity in Serum of Lambs Experimentally Infected with Haemonchus contortus

• Published in: The Journal of parasitology Vol. 99; no. 4; pp. 703 - 705
• Main Authors: Da Silva, Aleksandro S, Fausto, Guilherme C, Grando, Thirssa H, Cadore, Carlos A, Pimentel, Victor C, Jaques, Jeandre A, Schetinger, Maria R. C, Monteiro, Silvia G, Leal, Marta L. R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Society of Parasitologists 01.08.2013; Allen Press Inc
• Subjects: Adenosine; Adenosine - metabolism; adenosine deaminase; Adenosine Deaminase - blood; Animals; blood serum; Case-Control Studies; Eggs; Enzymes; Erythrocytes; fecal egg count; feces; Feces - parasitology; Haemonchiasis - blood; Haemonchiasis - enzymology; Haemonchiasis - veterinary; Haemonchus - enzymology; Haemonchus contortus; Infections; lambs; Larvae; Lymphocytes; Male; Memory interference; Metabolism; Parasite Egg Count - veterinary; Parasitic diseases; Parasitology; Physiological regulation; RESEARCH NOTES; Sheep; Sheep Diseases - blood; Sheep Diseases - enzymology; Sheep Diseases - parasitology; Veterinary medicine; Brazil
• ISSN: 0022-3395; 1937-2345
• DOI: 10.1645/12-67.1

The aim of this study was to evaluate adenosine deaminase (E-ADA) activity in sera of lambs experimentally infected with Haemonchus contortus. We used 12 lambs divided into 2 groups; Group A had 5 healthy, non-infected animals (control) and Group B had 7 healthy animals infected with H. contortus. Lambs were infected orally with 500 larvae (L3) per animal every 2 days, for a period of 20 days, and later the infection was confirmed by examination of feces (eggs per gram [EPG] via fecal egg count). Blood collection was performed at days 0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 post-infection (PI) for analysis of E-ADA activity. Animals in Group A showed negative EPG throughout the experiment unlike those from Group B that had elevated EPG counts. E-ADA activity was reduced in the serum of animals infected with H. contortus when compared to non-infected controls at days 20, 40, 60, and 80 PI. Therefore, it is concluded that infection with H. contortus influences the E-ADA activity in lambs.