Plasma Ascorbic Acid Levels in Lambs with Coccidiosis

Coccidiosis is caused by single-celled parasites and most commonly affects lambs that are between 2 and 8 weeks of age. Most sheep herds are infected with coccidiosis, but only some lambs develop clinical coccidiosis, which causes symptoms such as dullness, lack of appetite, diarrhea, dehydration, weight loss, rectal prolapse, and anemia (Şahinduran et al. 2006). It has also been found that sheep with coccidial infections had low concentrations of ascorbic acid, and a deficiency of ascorbic acid can cause diarrhea and pneumonia (Şahinduran et al. 2006).

A farm in Burdur province was used to obtain 30 lambs between 1 and 2 months old, where 20 lambs were infected with coccidian oocysts, and 10 lambs were kept healthy. Before starting the study all lambs were classified as healthy according to their blood composition, body temperature, and respiratory rate. Fecal samples from the lambs in the healthy (control) group were examined and determined to be free of coccidians (Şahinduran et al. 2006).

The lambs in the infected group developed symptoms of clinical coccidiosis, with several severe cases of anemia. Lambs with severe symptoms were found to have more than one species of Eimeria in their system, with the most common species found being Eimeria bakuensis and Eimeria ovinoidalis (Şahinduran et al. 2006). When compared to the control group, the infected group had a significant difference in ascorbic acid levels, with the infected group having ascorbic acid levels of 0.78 ± 0.19 mg/dl while the healthy group had levels of 2.00 ± 0.58 mg/dl of ascorbic acid (Şahinduran et al. 2006).

The ascorbic acid levels in the infected sheep decreased due to lack of appetite and the accompanying decrease in the intake of proteins, leading to immune system depression. Depression of the immune system often leads to impaired resistance to other infectious organisms (Şahinduran et al. 2006). Infected lambs also had increased levels of leukocytes caused by tissue damage in the intestine and the accompanying fever (Şahinduran et al. 2006). Because of the low levels of vitamin C in lambs with coccidiosis, vitamin C in combination with classical treatments is recommended as a useful treatment plan for individuals in the herd with clinical coccidiosis (Şahinduran et al. 2006).

Reference

Şahinduran, Ş., Sezer, K., Büyükoğlu, T., Yukari, B., Albay, M. 2006. Plasma ascorbic acid levels in lambs with coccidiosis. Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences. 30: 219-221.