Clinical and laboratory studies on emaciation and ill-thriftiness in cattle at Aswan Governorate

Abstract EN

Cattle has an economic importance in Aswan governorate, hence it considered the main source of income for most farmers.

Emaciation in cattle was the main complain mentioned by many cattle breeders.

The aim of the present work is to evaluate the relation between emaciation as a clinical sign and the haematological and biochemical parameters in blood serum of cattle.

160 emaciated Cows, 1- > 5 years old and 20 clinically healthy cows selected from 19 villages at Edfu district constitute the basis of this work.

The clinical examination of emaciated cows revealed poor body condition, debility, alopecia, rough dry hair coat and pale mucous membrane.

Faecal examination of the emaciated cows revealed the presence of fasciola gigantica (8 2cases), paramhistomum cervi (13 cases), eggs and/or larvae of gastrointestinal nematodes (56 cases).

All values of total erythrocytes count, haemogloloin, packed cells volume and total leucocytes count were decreased in all emaciated cows at all ages.

Marked drop in values of these parameters were recorded in parasitic emaciated cases.

Marked drop with slight variations in the values of blood serum Ca, P, Mg, Cu and Zn was recorded in all emaciated animals whether parasitic or non-parasitic (infested).

Significant decrease in total serum protein and albumin was recorded in the emaciated cows.

Marked rise in blood serum values of AST and ALT in animals with emaciation irrespective of ages or parasitic infestation, was noticed.