After a repeated long-teon infection of lambs with the dose of 100 and I 000 eggs for 23 days only sporadical larvae were detected in the intestines, but they migrnted into the liver and the lungs. Clinical signs and biochemical changes were l illie expressive. Numerou s small disseminated greyish white nodules were fOl1lling in the liver during infection. the space around the bi le ducts and vesse ls was infiltrated with lymphocytic cells and developing foci were made up of lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear cells. 'The changes in the lung parenc hyma occurred later than in the liver, appearing as disseminated greyish blue nodules. The peribronchial area and interalveolar septa were infiltrated with lymphocyti c cell s. After infection has been ceased, the restorntion of changes in the liver was very rapid, while in the lungs it was slower. An increased alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase activities in the intestinal wall induced by larval penetration were persisting and suggested a long-ternl malabsorption. Despite the mentioned lesions, the infected lambs were able to compensate for the negative influence of migrdting Ascari.! suum Jarv ae without any conspicuous changes in the concenirJlions of plasma proteins, albumins. total immunoglobulins, bilirubin and marker enzyme activities.
Lnmbs. I1OI1-SpeCijic hrJ51S, Ascaris suum, pathogenesis
The anthelmintic potential of albendazole (ABZ) in intraruminal boluses (Proftril-Captec) was investigated in sheep harbouring naturally acquired Dicrocoelium infection. The anthelmintic efficacy was assessed by coprological testing during the autumn pasture and comparison of worm counts in 22 necropsied animals (11 treated and 11 untreated) at the end of the experiment. The mean faecal egg count (EPG) in treated animals dropped significantly during week 2, and between the 4th and the 12th week the faecal samples were almost negative. The health status of treated animals improved significantly during the first 2 weeks. Helminthological dissection of livers and small intestines revealed 91.8% efficacy, but a small number of live adult flukes were found in all treated animals.
The effect of industrial heavy metal emission on immune reactions was studied in lambs subsequently infected with Fasciola hepatica. The heavy metal emission (Cu, Hg, Pb, Cd, Cr, Zn) was collected from grass at 5 km distance from a mercury plant. Administration of the emission for 28 days prior to infection of the animals reduced the percent circulating T- and B-cell populations when compared with untreated animals and animals infected with F. hepatica only. The administration of emission had no suppressive effects on the levels of circulating antibodies to F. hepatica following infection. The intensity of liver infection with mature F. hepatica in the emission-fed and infected lamb group increased by 21.5%. This difference in comparison with control infected animals was not significant.
SummaryThe effect of heavy metals and pesticides on viability of miracidia stage of Fasciola hepatica was investigated. The experimental groups with chemicals were compared with the untreated control group. After 16 days of exposure, the groups contained Cr, Zn, CdZn, exhibited decreased motility of miracidia inside the egg shells. In the groups which contain AGCr, GCdZn, CdCrZn and AGCdCrZn no effect on movement of emerged miracidia were observed. In the rest of the groups immobile or dead miracidia inside the egg shells have been identified. The possible protective effect of zinc on miracidia of Fasciola hepatica is discussed.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.