Effect of the protein content in the ration of sheep on the development and pathogenic action of F. hepatica
Dimitrov, G.; Kuncheva, K.; Georgiev, B.
Veterinarno-Meditsinski Nauki 15(6): 92-100
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0324-1068 PMID: 746619 Document Number: 125016
Examined were two groups of 12 sheep each, infected with metacercaria of Fasciola hepatica. The first group were given a ration that contained 14 g crude protein per kg of metabolic weight, and the second group--a ration, containing 8.24 g, i.e., as much as was fed to animals in the field. In animals that were given higher amounts of protein developed 29.1 per cent less Fasciolae, on an average, and 5.2 per cent less worms reached sexual maturity as against the group that was offered less protein. The higher content of protein in the diet was shown to produce a protective effect against the strong clinical development of facioliasis.