Authors : S.A. Ameen , R.A. Joshua , O.S. Adedeji , A.O. Ige , B.O. Oyebanji , A.F. Ogundola and T.A. Rafiu
Abstract: Clinical observations and haematological changes following gastro-intestinal worm Haemonchus contortus was investigated experimentally in West African Dwarf (WAD) kids. 10 apparently healthy kids were experimentally infected orally with 750 infective larvae of Haemonchus contortus for a period of 5 weeks. The kids were weighed, the blood and faecal samples were collected before and after infection. Student�s t-test statistical analysis was used. The clinical observations on the infected WAD kids were normal rectal temperature, normal respiratory rate, normal heart rate and normal prepatent period with muscular weakness, anorexia, intestinal distension by worms, weight loss, reduced carcass quality, reduced feed intake, diarrhea and anaemia. The infestation was characterized by responsive normocytic-nomochromic anaemia. The weight and erythrocytic values were significantly different at p<0.05 and p<0.01 compared with the control. The erythrocytic indices, the total WBC and differential leucocyte counts were not significantly different at p>0.05 and p>0.01. The weight and erythrocytic values are directly proportional to the level of presence of helminthes eggs in the faeces.
S.A. Ameen , R.A. Joshua , O.S. Adedeji , A.O. Ige , B.O. Oyebanji , A.F. Ogundola and T.A. Rafiu , 2006. Experimental Studies on Gastro-Intestinal Nematode Infection; Clinical Observations and Haematological Changes Following Haemonchus contortus Infection in West African Dwarf (WAD) Kids. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 5: 511-514.