The influence of energy intake on some blood biochemical parameters in Scottish Blackface sheep infected with Trypanosoma congolense

The intensity of parasitaemia, degree of anaemia, live body weight gains an d blood biochemical changes were measured in two groups of Scottish Blackfa ce sheep infected experimentally with Trypanosoma congolense and allowed ei ther a high (9.9 MJ metabolisable energy (ME) per day) or a low (6.1 MJ ME per day) energy intake. It was observed that infected animals on the low en ergy intake had a longer mean prepatent period, but following patency they developed more severe anaemia and greater growth retardation than those on the high energy intake. Both infected groups exhibited significant reductio ns in serum total lipids, phospholipids. plasma cholesterol and albumin. Ho wever, these changes were more severe in the animals on the low energy inta ke than in those on the high energy intake. It was concluded that adequate energy nutrition enhances the ability of infected animals to withstand the adverse effects of infection by promoting body weight gains and moderating the severity of the pathophysiological changes associated with ovine trypan osomosis. (C)1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.