Abstract
The present study was conducted to determine tho effect of natural infection of liaemonehus comortiirs on blood lla.enaloglotpin, serum iron and magnesium levels in 51-tecp. Qualitative and quan-titative faecal examinations were carried out. Blood samples of positive cases were obtained from jugular vein. Blood haemoglo-bin, serum iron and magnesium levels were estimated spectropho-tometrically by using standard clingnOstie kits, It was found that decreased levels of haemoglobin and serum iron were directly proportional to the severity of infection., On the other hand, seru.ni magnesium level remained almost the same in infected and non-infected sheep.
INTRODUCTION
Haerhonch.osis caused by Haemorwarirs co.-gorws is a major parasitic disease responsible for causing great economic loss in sheep. Hussain and Akram (1967) reported an overall. loss of 23.8% in meat production and 40% in wool produc-tion in lambs suffering from haemonchosis„ The main symptoms of the disease arc anaemia, weakness and chronic diarrhoea which may result in biochemical changes in the serum including alterations in serum glucose, minerals, vitamins and enzymes. Sheep with heavy parasitic infection have been observed to suffer from iron deficiency (Georg'. 1964) and low haemoglobin levels (Thomas and Ali, 1983). The present study was therefore, undertaken to estimate the level of haemoglobin, serum iron and magnesium in clinical cases of haemonchosis so that it may aid in accurate diagnosis and prove helpful in devising ways and means to treat haernonchosis.
MATEF IALS AND METHODS The faecal and Mood sampin were collected from Indoor and infectious
