Predicting effects of naturally acquired abomasal nematode infections on growth rate and food intake in reindeer using serum pepsinogen levels

An experiment was performed on semiwild reindeer with naturally acquired pa rasite infections to assess whether measures of serum pepsinogen concentrat ion and fecal egg counts can be used to predict effects of abomasal nematod es on reindeer weight gain and food intake. Food intake and weight gains we re lower in infected calves compared with calves where parasites had been r emoved by anthelmintic treatment. Among the infected animals, concentration of pepsinogen in serum was correlated with food intake and weight gains. C oncentration of abomasal nematode eggs in feces was not. Our results sugges t that measures of pepsinogen levels in serum, but not fecal egg counts, ma y be used to predict the effects of abomasal nematodes on food intake and w eight gain of reindeer.