Jg. Waweru et al., A comparison of serum biochemical changes in two breeds of sheep (Red Masai and Dorper) experimentally infected with Fasciola gigantica, ONDERST J V, 66(1), 1999, pp. 47-49
Twelve Red Masai and 12 Dorper sheep aged between 6 and 9 months, were acqu
ired from a fluke-free area and sheep of each breed divided into two equal
groups of six. Each animal in one group of each breed was experimentally in
fected with 400 viable metacercariae of Fasciola gigantica. The other group
s acted as uninfected controls. Blood samples were taken at weekly interval
s for the determination of serum bilirubin, albumin, and gamma glutamyl tra
nsferase levels. Following the establishment of infection, albumin levels d
eclined in bath breeds of infected animals without any significant differen
ce between the two breeds. However, serum bilirubin and gamma glutamyl tran
sferase (GGT) in the infected animals were elevated significantly more in t
he Dorper than in the Red Masai sheep. Based on these findings, it would ap
pear that Dorper sheep are more susceptible to the infection than Red Masai
sheep.