Stress Response to Fascioliasis by Cattle

Markers of oxidative stress namely: superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidise, diphosphotriphosphodiaphorase, malondialdehyde and reduced glutathione were determined in the cattle with moderate fascioliasis and a comparison was made of these markers with those in non-infected animals. The haematocrit levels, i.e., red blod cell count, packed cell volume and haemoglobin concentration were also determined in the two groups of animals and were used to come up with the control group. In both cattle there were some significant differences in the levels of glutathione, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidise. No significant changes were recorded in diphosphotriphosphodiaphorase. For catalase and glutathione peroxidise there was a significant increase in levels in the infected cattle compared to the non-infected cattle. For glutathione and malondialdehyde there was a decrease in levels of glutathione and an increase in the levels of malondialdehyde in infected cattle compared to noninfected cattle respectively. Superoxide dismutase activity was decreased in blood of infected cattle compared to the non-infected ones. The results showed that cattle infected with F. gigantica were under oxidative stress. The study confirms that ruminants infected with trematodes will be under oxidative stress, which might have implications on the overall health of the animals.