Indicadores sanguíneos de daño hepático en novillos cruza cebú parasitados por Fasciola hepatica

Abstract

The objective of the trial was to investigate eventual changes of hepatic damage blood indicators, during the subclinical (asymptomatic) period of fasciolosis. Fifty six blood samples of apparently healthy half-bred Zebu steers were collected in slaughterhouses from enzootic areas of Corrientes Province (Argentina). After slaughtering it was verified that 29 of them harbored scarce to moderate amount of liver flukes, being the rest of the animals free of parasites. Erythrogram, leukogram, proteinogram, enzymogram (alkaline phosphatase ALP, gammaglutamyl transferase GGT, aspartate aminotransferase AST) and iron, glucose, bilirubin and prothrombin time were determined by conventional laboratory techniques. Leukocyte, eosinophil, gamma globulin, and GGT values were higher in parasitized animals than in controls (p < 0.05). Such inflammatory signs are imputed to an incipient cholangitis, which is characteristic of the subclinical period of liver fluke disease. Changes attributable to cholestasis and hepatic failure were not verified.