European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

BIOCHEMICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE RESPIRATORY DISEASES IN SHEEP IN NORTH WESTERN COAST

*Gehad R. Donia, Iman A. El Ebissy and Islam M. Wassif

ABSTRACT

Sheep pneumonia remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Here the present study was aimed to investigate the relation between hematological, biochemical, and immunological changes associated with this disease as these biomarkers are critical molecules expressed in response to invading pathogens and are necessary for normal lung bacterial host defenses. Twenty Barki ewes with sever pneumonia manifestations in which two were dead as postmortem and bacteriological examinations were done on their pneumonic lungs in addition, fifteen apparently healthy were used in this study. Blood samples were collected from the two groups. Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aurius, Klebseilla pneumonia, Proteus spp. and pseudomonas aeroginisa were isolated from pneumonic lung. The results showed a significant decrease in all red blood cell parameters in diseased ewes also this group showed a significant decrease in lymphocyte count and a significant increase in absolute neutrophilic, eosinophilic and monocytic counts. Biochemical parameters revealed a significant increase in serum concentrations of total protein, ALT, AST (as liver functions), urea, creatinine (as kidney functions) and potassium and a significant decrease was seen in the levels of albumin, sodium, calcium and phosphorus in diseased ewes compared to the healthy ewes. The results of immunological parameters (haptoglobin and serum amyloid A) showed a significant increase in their values in diseased animals compared to healthy animals. The results of this study could conclude that respiratory infections in sheep were associated with significant hematological, biochemical and immunological alterations which upon understanding can provide us with rapid diagnostic tools for pneumonia process in sheep and thus lead to better management and proper treatment.

Keywords: bacterial respiratory diseases, haptoglobin, serum amyloid A sheep.