Abstract

BARRIOS, Mariana et al. Leukocyte Profile in anemic calves naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes. Zootecnia Trop. [online]. 2013, vol.31, n.3, pp.193-200. ISSN 0798-7269.

In order to asses the leukocyte response generated in anaemic calves infected with gastrointestinal nematodes, blood and feces samples were taken from 76 crossbred calves for hematologic and coprologic analysis. In anaemic animals the leukocyte count showed no signifi cant change in presence or not of parasites (11.88 and 12.50 x 103/ul, respectively). In animals without anaemia most cases of parasitic infections were mild to moderate, presenting an increased leukocyte count only in mild cases. The lymphocytes were the predominant cell type in the response with presence of eosinophils and neutrophils. In anaemic animals most were moderate to severe cases, the total leukocyte, lymphocyte, eosinophil and neutrophil counts did not show signifi cant change in mild and moderate cases, with a signifi cant decrease in serious cases (P<0.05). It is suggested that in anaemic calves there is no adequate leukocyte response to parasite challenge, with a high number of severe cases.

Keywords : immune response; gastrointestinal parasites; hematology.

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