HEMATOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL-ALTERATIONS IN HILL BULLS INFECTED WITHCLOSTRIDIUM-CHAUVOEI

Hill bulls infected with Cl. chauvoei developed haemoconcentration as evidenced by significantly increased total erythrocyte count (8.66 x 1 0(12)/l), haemoglobin (150 g/1) and haematocrit (0.44 1/1) associated with fluid exudation in subcutaneous tissues and muscles and serous ef fusions in the body cavities. Thrombocyte and total leukocyte count we re significantly decreased initially at 1 to 3 days post infection (DP I) (180.0 x 10(9)/1 and 4.47 x 10(9)/1 respectively) but increased aft er 3 DPI onwards, possibly due to adverse effects of toxin produced by the organisms. The neutrophil count was significantly increased (6.86 x 10(9)/l) and lymphocytes correspondingly decreased (4.91 x 10(9)/1) . The values for creatine phosphokinase (CPK, 2,800 IU/1), aspartate a minotransferase (AST, 223 IU/1), alanine aminotransferase (ALT, 66 IU/ 1) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, 201 IU/1) were significantly increa sed. CPK, AST and LDH were attributed to muscle damage both skeletal a nd to a little extent cardiac and the increased ALT values appeared to be due to hepatic damage. Blood glucose values did not show any defin ite pattern, increased in culture inoculated group (8.1 mmol/1) while decreased (4.1 mmol/1) in groups inoculated intramuscularly with spore s or toxin or fed spores.