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Toxoplasmosis in Sheep

Toxoplasmose hos sau. Hematologiske, serologiske og parasittologiske undersøkelser

Haematological, Serological And Parasitologic Al Studies{fn1}

Abstract

Blood variables (cell values, contents of haemoglobin, minerals and proteins) were studied retrospectively in 13 lambs which had acquired toxoplasmosis during the summer, and in 2 lambs which had been infected during the perinatal period. Examination by immunoelectrophoresis was also performed. The lambs had been in experimental groups in a research project of blood values in sheep on pastures of different qualities. The groups comprised a total of 40 lambs, which had been bled once monthly. Examinations were also carried out in lambs experimentally infected with the RH strain of T. gondii, in lambs experimentally infected with a sheep strain of the parasite, and in a control group. No significant changes in the blood variables were found.

Meat samples from the experimentally infected lambs and their controls were examined parasitologically. T. gondii was recovered from all dye test positive (titre ≥ 1/16) lambs inoculated with the sheep strain, but not from any of the lambs inoculated with the RH strain. The results indicated that the RH strain does not produce cysts in the muscular tissue in sheep. Some observations indicated that this strain may protect against reinfection with other strains, but the number of individuals was too low for a statistical conclusion. kw|Keywords|k]toxoplasma infection; k]haematology; k]sheep {fn1|This work was supported by grants from The Norwegian Research Council for Science and for the Humanities.}

Sammendrag

Blodverdier (celleverdier, hemoglobin-, mineral- og proteininnhold) ble undersøkt retrospektivt hos 13 lam som var blitt naturlig infisert med Toxoplasma gondii i løpet av sommeren, og hos 2 lam som var blitt infisert i tiden omkring fødsel. Immunelektroforese av serumprøvene ble også utført. Lammene hadde være fordelt på 2 grup- per med til sammen 40 dyr i forsøk med beiter av ulik kvalitet, og var blitt undersøkt med en måneds mellomrom. Undersøkelser ble også foretatt av lam eksperimentelt infisert med RH stammen av T. gondii, av lam eksperimentelt infisert med en sauestamme av parasitten, samt av en kontrollgruppe. Det ble ikke funnet signifikante forandringer i blodverdiene i samband med infeksjonen.

Kjøttprøver fra de eksperimentelt infiserte lammene og fra kon- trollgruppen ble undersøkt parasittologisk. T. gondii ble påvist hos alle dye test positive (titer ≥ 1/16) lam podet med sauestammen av parasitten, men ikke hos lam podet med RH stammen. Resultatene tydet på at RH stammen ikke danner cyster i muskulaturen hos sau. Noen observasjoner i forsøket tydet på at denne stammen av T. gondii kan beskytte mot infeksjon med andre stammer, men antall individer var for lavt til at det kunne trekkes en sikker konklusjon.

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Waldeland, H. Toxoplasmosis in Sheep. Acta Vet Scand 18, 248–256 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03548453

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