Hematological and Biochemical Blood Parameters During Pregnancy in Algerian Rembi Ewes

Abstract

PREGNANT animals need high energy to maintain pregnancy and embryo development. Animals supplemented with low energy diets are predisposed to inflammatory processes, immune system dysfunction, and maternal metabolic issues during pregnancy. This research work aimed to declare the changes in hemato-biochemical parameters in pregnant Rembi sheep. Thirty healthy Rembi ewes were synchronized in October 2020 for the current study. Beginning in the first month of pregnancy, blood was taken monthly from the jugular vein. Our results showed that plasma glucose (GLU), urea, and globulin(Glob) decreases were highly significant (P<0.05) during the last two months of pregnancy. Conversely, the values of triglyceride (TG), Albumin (Alb), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), and Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) recorded a highly significant increase at the end of the pregnancy. Furthermore, serum levels of Calcium (Ca) and Phosphorus (P) recorded a highly significant (P<0.05) decrease during the last month of gestation. Total protein (TP) and Gammaglutamyl Transferase (GGT) showed significant (P<0.05) decreases during the first gestational month. Regarding the hematological parameters, especially erythrogram, in the last month of gestation, ewes present macrocytic hypochromic anemia with a highly significant (P<0.05) decrease in the values of red blood cells (RBC) and hemoglobin (HBC). White blood cells (WBC) were found to be significantly higher (P< 0.05) in the final month of pregnancy compared to the first. Blood parameters may change during pregnancy, and that can reflect the health of the ewes.