Effect of experimental nematode infection on serum mineral concentrations in growing lambs.

The objective of the present study was to determine the possible effect of gastrointestinal nematodes upon serum mineral concentrations of lambs. Twelve male lambs were used. Lambs were randomly assigned to 2 groups (n = 6): Group 1 infected with gastrointestinal nematodes and Group 2 as controls. Lambs of Group 1 were infected with a single dose of 15,000 L3 larvae of GI nematodes (Haemonchus, Teladorsagia, Trichostrongylus, Cooperia and Oesophagostomum-Bunostomum). Blood samples were collected from the investigated animals individually every 2 weeks. However, the differences in serum macro-minerals (Ca, Mg, P, K, and Na) among groups were not significant. Although the differences in serum macro-minerals among groups were not significant and the iron serum concentration remained unaltered, the gastrointestinal parasitism reduced significantly/substantially the serum copper levels.

Genotypes and subtypes of Cryptosporidium spp. in diarrheic lambs and goat kids in northern Greece.

Inconsistent data exist on the distribution of zoonotic Cryptosporidium species and subtypes in sheep and goats in European countries, and few such data are available from Greece. In this study, 280 fecal specimens were collected from 132 diarrheic lambs and 148 diarrheic goat kids aged 4 to 15 days on 15 farms in northern Greece, and examined for Cryptosporidium spp. using microscopy of Ziehl-Neelsen-stained fecal smears. Cryptosporidium spp. in 80 microscopy-positive fecal specimens (39 from lambs and 41 from goat kids) were genotyped by PCR-RFLP analysis of the small subunit rRNA gene and subtyped by sequence analysis the 60 kDa glycoprotein gene. Among the 33 specimens successfully genotyped, C. parvum was found in 32 and C. xiaoi in one. Seven subtypes belonging to two subtype families (IIa and IId) were identified among the 29 C. parvum specimens successfully subtyped, including IIaA14G2R1 (1/29), IIaA15G2R1 (6/29), IIaA20G1R1 (7/29), IIdA14G2 (1/29), IIdA15G1 (9/29), IIdA16G1 (3/29), and IIdA23G1 (2/29). Lambs were more commonly infected with C. parvum IIa subtypes, whereas goat kids were more with IId subtypes. The results illustrate that C. parvum is prevalent in diarrheic lambs and goat kids in northern Greece and these animals could potentially play a role in epidemiology of human cryptosporidiosis.