Clinical and biochemical studies on Theileria annulata in Egyptian buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) with particular emphasis on oxidative stress and ketosis relationship

Abstract

This study was carried out on 68 naturally infected buffaloes with Theileria annulata, in addition to 25 parasite-free buffaloes, distributed in small herds at Dakahlia and Gharbya governorates, Egypt, to demonstrate the clinical picture associated with theileriosis, with particular emphasis on the oxidative stress and ketosis relationship. The clinical signs recorded in infected buffaloes were fever, enlargement of one or more lymph nodes, ocular discharge, corneal opacity, skin lesions, decreased milk yield, pale mucous membrane and anorexia. Blood and serum analysis revealed significant decrease in red blood cells (RBCS) and/or haemoglobin (HB) concentration in the infected animals, compared to the control ones. Moreover, a significant increase (p ≤ 0.05) was found in the levels of Malondialdehyde (MDA), beta hydroxy butric acid (BHBA) and non-esterified free fatty acid (NEFA) with a significant decrease (p ≤ 0.05) in the levels of reduced glutathione (R.GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), nitric oxide (NO), glucose and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) in infected animals, compared to the control ones. It can be concluded that Theileria annulata plaid an imperative role in the occurrence of anaemia, oxidative stress and ketosis in Egyptian water buffaloes.