Hematologic profile and serum iron in lambs naturally infected by gastrointestinal nematodes

Abstract

Gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep are the center of cases that causes loss of production in farms and, also in circumstances of elevated parasite burdens and deaths. Anemia, hypoproteinemia, diarrhea, submandibular edema, hemorrhagic gastritis, lack of appetite, difficulties on nutrient absorption and loss of weight are some of the consequences of the precarious health status of these animals. Thus, this project aims to evaluate the complete blood count (hemograms), the serum iron, and the parasite burden (EPG and coproculture of infective larvae) in lambs naturally infected by gastrointestinal nematodes. The objective is directed towards the comparison of clinical-laboratory results for each period of sample collection from 32 lambs, regarding its respective stage of parasite infection, to obtain data according to the parasite burdens in field conditions.