Use of blood gastrin assay in the diagnosis of ovine haemonchiasis
Fox, M.T.; Pitt, S.R.; Gerrelli, D.; Jacobs, D.E.; Adhikari, D.R.; Goddard, P.J.
Veterinary Record 122(6): 136-137
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 3369065 Document Number: 318689
Twelve, 3-month-old, Suffolk-cross lambs were divided into 4 groups of 3. Each group contained one infected, ad libitum fed lamb (receiving the equivalent of 2000 Haemonchus contortus larvae daily given 3 times a week from day 0 to 33), one control pair-fed lamb (restricted to the feed intake of its infected 'pair' the previous day) and one control fed ad libitum. Despite a depression of appetite of up to 51% in infected lambs no significant difference was seen in the blood values of the ad libitum and the pair-fed control groups. Significant increases were seen in plasma pepsinogen levels on day 5 and gastrin values on day 7, with peak pepsinogen and gastrin levels between days 14 and 19 when there was a 3.2- and 3.9-fold difference between infected and control group values, respectively. There was a highly significant correlation between pepsinogen and gastrin values in the infected animals. It is suggested that assay of gastrin levels is of value in the diagnosis of H. contortus infection in lambs.