Analyses of Haematological and Serum Biochemical Parameters in Experimental Coccidiosis in Barbari and Jamunapari Goats in Semi-arid Tropics

Goat is considered as most resourceful and efficient small ruminant all over the world (Singh et al., 2014). The adaptability and independence of free living, easy handling, bashful feeding concern, better tolerance against climatic conditions and efficient alteration of definite asset for production such as; milk, meat and hides are rightful factors to make the goat as a source animals for small scale rearing farmers (Balicka-Ramisz, 1999; Singh et al., 2015).

Genus Eimeria is belongs to the family Eimeriidae under, phylum Apicomplexa (Bush et al., 2001). The different Eimeria sps. have capability to establish disease in goats associated with diarrhoea, decrease in production, poor growth performance, high morbidity depending upon dominant type of coccidian species, to cause high mortality rates as described by Radostits et al., (1994); Singla et al., (2018); Kaur et al., (2019). Various factor such as stressors, adverse weather, weaning, nutritional changes, wandering and congregate have played a major role in goat coccidiosis (Cox, 1998). Eimeria ninakohlyakimovae is accounted as most pathogenic species in goats (Chartier and Paraud, 2012). There are very few literature (Anumol et al., 2012; Singh et al., 2016; Singh et al., 2024) available to know the alterations in biochemical and hematological parameters in goat due to coccidiosis. However, the present investigation was design to analyses the hematological and biochemical changes in response to experimental coccidian infection in Barbari and Jamunapari goats in semi-arid tropics to improve the knowledge of pathogenicity by coccidiosis and better understanding of resulting disease.

This studied was carried out at ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Goats (CIRG) and College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, DUVASU, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India, during the year 2014-15.
 
Collection of blood samples
 
Blood samples were collected aseptically from the jugular vein, using 22 gauge fine needles for all the 24 animals separatelyand 5 ml blood collected in vials containing ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) coated anticoagulant @ 1 mg /ml. The studied animals were fully acclimatized with surroundings. A total 8 weeks were taken for observation. The different anticoccidial drugs such as, Sulphadimidine @ 135 mg/kg body weight for 5 days, Toltrazuril @ 20 mg/kg body weight for 2 days and Amprolium @ 50 mg/kg body weight for 5 days were administered in control, Barbari and Jamunapari groups of goat. The selected goats were free from coccidian infection with suitable drugs i.e. Furazolidone @10 mg/kg body weight was used as anticoccidial drug. After that all the goats (Babrabi, Jamunapari and control) were inoculated by 3´104 sporulated oocysts of coccidian and samples were examined from 6 to 56 days. However, the present investigation is excluded the identification of different Eimeria species found in the goat population.
 
Haematological study
 
For haematological observation several parameters such as WBC (/mm³), RBC (M/mm³), Hct (%), Mcv (fl), Hb (g/dl), MCH (pg), MCHC (g/dl), Lymphocyte (%), Monocyte (%) and Granulocyte (%) were estimated with the help of Haematology auto analyzer (model number Ms4Se, Melet Schloesing Laboratories, France).
 
Biochemical study
 
Plasma separated from the blood used for biochemical estimations and it was collected into Eppendorf tubes 2 ml capacity with suitable anticoagulant and mixed properly. The necessary precautions were followed to prevent the haemolysis. The collected samples were centrifuged at 6,000 rpm, 15^oC C for 10 minutes and supernatant (plasma) were collected and stored in a deep freeze at -20^oC in Eppendorf tubes, with properly capped and labeled till experiment. Several biochemical parameters i.e. plasma total proteins (g/dl), creatinine (mg/dl), BUN (mg/dl), Sodium (mEq/L), Potassium (mEq/L), Chloride (mEq/L), Phosphorus  (mg/dl), Albumin (g/dl), Globulin (g/dl) and enzymatic activities viz. alanine amino transferase (IU/L), aspartate amino transferase (IU/ L), alkaline phosphatase (units/ L) were done with the help of, Biochemistry auto analyzer (Model number BS-120, 2007-2010 Shenzhen Mindray Biochemical Electronics Co. Ltd., China) using Span diagnostic kits (Span Diagnostics Ltd., Sachin, Surat, India). Blood glucose (mg/dl) was estimated with the help of Glucometer using blood glucose test strips (Gluco Chek, Aspen Diagnostics Pvt. Ltd., Delhi-33, India).
 
Analyses of data
 
Analyses of data using SPSS (version 17.0, SPSS Inc., Chicago) for ANOVA to comparison of different biochemical and haematological parameters. The P<0.05 was accepted as statistically significant.

Haematological values in goats before infection are presented in Table 1.  Twenty four goats (3 Barbari control, 15 Barbari and 6 Jamunapari) which were used for both biochemical parameters and haematology study. RBC, Hb, MCH and granulocyte was observed significantly higher in control as compared to other groups, while lymphocyte only was observed higher in Jamunapari groups. Rest all other parameters (WBC, Hct, Mcv, monocyte and granulocyte) had no significant differences among control, Barbari and Jamunapari groups.


       
Haematological values in goats during infection are presented in Table 2. During infected groups WBC, lymphocyte and monocyte were observed significantly (P<0.05) higher in Jamunapari as compared to other groups, while granulocyte was observed higher in control groups.

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Haematological values of goats after treatment are presented in Table 3. After treatment; WBC, lymphocyte and monocyte were observed to be significantly (P<0.05) high in Jamunapari goat as compared with other groups, while granulocyte were found higher in control groups. No significant (P>0.05) differences were observed in parameters of the other group.

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Biochemical values in goats before infection are presented in Table 4. Twenty four goats; control group (3), Barbari group (15) and Jamunapari group (6) were selected for the biochemical study. AST, urea and potassium levels were found (P<0.05) higher in control as compared to other. Albumin and A/G ratio had shown significantly (P<0.05) higher value in Jamunapari group. No significant differences (P>0.05) were observed in rest other parameters.

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Biochemical values in goats during infection are presented in Table 5. Among the tested parameters, AST (P<0.05) had reported higher in control group as compared to the other. Further, the level of Albumin was recorded higher in Jamunapari groups (P<0.05). No significant (P>0.05) differences were observed in parameters of other group.


       
Biochemical values in goats after treatment are presented in Table 6. Creatinine, albumin and A/G ratio was significantly higher in Jamunapari as compare to other (P<0.05). While the level of sodium had recorded significantly (P<0.05) higher in control group. However, no significant (P>0.05) differences were observed in rest other parameters.

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Coccidiosis infection is economic importance due to clinical symptoms such as diarrhoea as well as subclinical infections and poor weight gain in affected animals. Due to a powerful immunity, oocyst excretion peaks around the time of weaning and steadily declines after that. Breeding intensification, high premises stocking densities, inadequate hygieneand all types of stress i.e. physiological, nutritional, etc. are risk factors for excessive excretion (Chartier and Paraud; 2012). Some factors i.e. age, genetic susceptibility, well-being, stress and the level of immunity are plays a significant role in deleterious. The damage of tissue is dependent on the different species of Eimeria as well as transmittable dose of oocysts ingested by susceptible host (Dougschies and Najdrowski, 2005; Jolley and Bardsley, 2006; Jubb et al., 2007).  The selected goats were free from coccidia infection with suitable drugs such as furazolidone @ 10 mg/ kg body weight, after that all goats (Babrabi, Jamunapari and control) were inoculated via drenching by sporulated oocysts of coccidia. The present study is excluded the identification of different Eimeria species in goat.
       
The obtained results showed that surge in haematological parameters such as RBC, Hb, MCH and granulocytes in control group while, alteration in lymphocyte, WBC, monocyte in Jamunapari group. However, rise in serum biochemical parameters are AST, urea, K+ and Na+ in control group along with higher in albumin, creatinine and A/G ratio in Jamunapari group. There was no any alteration recorded in Barbari group and well agreement with Tambuwal et al., (2002) reported a significant rise on RBC in infected goats and suggested, oxygen carrying capacity of the blood was high in goats Dai et al., (2006) reported a significant increase mean Haemoglobin of sheep after coccidiosis and result showed denoting of a decrease in circulation of blood volume. The higher values of MCH, which help to determine and classify the anaemia as per described by Jain, (1986). WBC counts were found increase because of increased lymphopoesis associated with response of immunity to inflammatory agent. Lymphocyte counts also arise in response to coccidia infection as reported by Shommein and Osman (1980) and Singh et al., (2016). Lymphocyte is a kind of immune cell and capable of attacking foreign cells. The involvement of leukocytosis T-cell proliferation is well known from chickens, were earlier immunized by Jenkins et al., 1991. Although, rallying of lymphocytes from Payer’s patches are also ubiquitous (Gregory 1990). Monocytes levels were observed higher in goats and this might be due to the infection of other parasites i.e. helminthes.
       
Turk and Casteel (1997) observed that the serum levels of AST in acute hepatic degenerations increased. The observed higher value of potassium in Jamunapari and control groups, might be due to changes of electrolytes such as Na and K ions are usually related to diarrhoea with loss of Na+ and good agreement with Ghanem and Abd El-Raof (2005). The relationship between Eimeria and goats is complicated as a result of prior exposure, ageand the impact that these factors have on total protein as determined by the albumin/globulin ratio (Fitzgerald, 1964). An alteration in albumin-globulin (A/G) ratio followed by inverted non-monotonic response curve over the time and variation was observed largely due to changes in the value of globulin and it was similar as earlier reported by El Manyawe  et al. (2010). Urea and creatinine level rise during kidney infection. As availability of water was adlibitumand non-other evidences of kidney problemsand suggests that the coccidia assault and might be possible associated secondary infections led to ascend in creatinine.

The observation had shown that surge in RBC, Hb MCH, granulocyte, lymphocyte, monocyte and AST, urea, potassium ion, sodium ion, albumin, A/G ratio and creatinine in Jamunapari as well as control group. Therefore, the haematological and serum biochemical parameters may be a suitable indicator for experimentally infected coccidia infection in goat.

The authors are very thankful to the Director, Central Institute for Research on Goat (CIRG) and incharge (goat unit), Makhdoom, Farah, Mathura for providing the facilities required for conducting the research work.
 
Declarations
 
Funding
 
Not applicable.
 
Ethics approval
 
The study was approved by the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC) constituted as per the article number 13 of the CPCSEA–rules, laid down by Government of India.
 
Authors’ contributions
 
AKS designed the research plan, drafted the manuscript and interpreted the data, DS and PKR contributed in manuscript writing and data collection. PK, DD, AK and KKC are involved in checking drafting of the manuscript.

All authors declared that there is no conflict of interest.