IMMUNOLOGICAL PARAMETERIS IN HAIR SHEEP FOR SUPPLY AGAINST GASTROINTESTINAL NEMATODES IN TABASCO, MÉXICO

Abstract

A study was carried out in a sheep slaughterhouse in Tabasco, México, to determine immunological parameters in sheep, through blood, saliva, feces and mucous samples from small intestine and rennet of n=60. The cell agglomerate volume (VCA), plasma protein (PP), and leukocyte differential count were determined. The number of nematode eggs per gram (HPG) was obtained from feces, and adult parasites from rennet and small intestine were counted. The level of immunoglobulin A (IgA) was determined against Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis, and the correlations between variables were estimated. The sheep that had the highest number of adult nematodes (534) presented greater elimination of eggs (2401 to 12501 HPG). The average VCA and PP were higher, 34.5% and 7.6 g dL^-1, respectively, in sheep that had been stabled compared to those in grazing, 32.3% and 7.1 g dL^-1, respectively. The highest counts of lymphocytes and peripheral eosinophils (7812 and 124, respectively) were present in grazing sheep. The VCA was higher, 36.9 %, in those animals that were free from nematodes and lower in those with parasites (31.1%). The activity of the IgA was higher in rennet mucous, 1.33±0.92, and correlated significantly with IgA in serum. Because of the variability of sheep for supply, the IgA from mucous and eosinophils had scarce relation to the parasitological and hematological parameters