Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate the hematological changes in Haemonchus contortus affected lambs. A total of 350 Nellore brown sheep flock maintained in an extensive system of grazing, and out of which 40 lambs were selected randomly. Even though the sheep were dewormed regularly, an outbreak was noticed. Two lamb were found dead in the flock prior to screening. During screening out of 40 lambs, 18 lambs were found normal and were kept as control group and 22 lambs which exhibited clinical signs of anemia, poor growth, emaciation, diarrhea were selected. Blood samples were analyzed for the estimation of Total erythrocyte (RBC), total leukocyte (WBC) count, hemoglobin concentration (g/dl), Packed cell volume (%), MCV (fl), MCH (pg), MCHC (g/dl) and compared with normal animals. The infection was confirmed to be due to H. contortus following the recovery of Haemonchus worms at post-mortem. Haematological profile revealed that there was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in total erythrocyte count, total leukocyte count, hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume and MCHC values in H. contortus affected lambs.

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