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

This study was carried out on 68 Theileria annulata naturally infected buffaloes in addition to 25 parsitologically free buffaloes distributed in small herds at Dakahlia and Gharbya governorates, Egypt, to demonstrate the clinical picture associated with theileriosis in this buffaloes with particular emphasis to the oxidative stress and ketosis relationship. Clinical signs recorded in infected buffaloes were in the form of fever, enlargement of one or more lymph node, ocular discharge, corneal opacity, skin lesions, decreased milk yield, pale mucous membrane and anorexia. Blood and serum analysis revealed significant (p ≤ 0.05) decrease in RBCS and or Hb concentration in infected animals compared to control ones. Moreover, significant increase (p ≤ 0.05) in the levels of beta hydroxy butyric 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 control ones. It can be concluded that T. annulata plays an important role in the occurrence of anemia, oxidative and ketotic stressor in Egyptian water buffaloes. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.