Abstract

ARECE, J; LOPEZ, Y; MOLINA, M  and  ALPIZAR, A. Physiopathological changes in confined Pelibuey sheep, after experimental infestation with gastrointestinal strongyles. Pastos y Forrajes [online]. 2013, vol.36, n.3, pp.354-359. ISSN 0864-0394.

A study was conducted in the sheep-goat area of the EEPF "Indio Hatuey" in order to know the main physiopathological changes that occur in confined Pelibuey sheep, after infestation with gastrointestinal strongyles. Thirty animals were used, with an average age of six months and 19 kg of live weight, which were infested with 3 000 larvae of Haemonchus spp. (95 %), Trichostrongylus colubriformis (2 %) and Oesophagostomum columbianum (3 %). They were kept in total confinement and were supplied a balanced diet based on concentrate (CP: 16 %), chopped sugarcane and king grass forage, as well as fresh foliage from other grasses according to their requirements. The parasite infestation rate, variations of live weight, hematocrit, quantity of peripheral eosinophils and color of the ocular mucosa were determined. The prepatent period was 12 days and high infestation was found, but it could not modify the productive response of the animals expressed in considerable weight gains. The hematocrit decreased as a result of the infestation by Haemonchus spp. and the color of the ocular mucosa behaved similarly. The peripheral eosinophils increased as a result of the parasite infestation. The animals were concluded to show a response to the experimental infestation, which did not modify their productive performance; in this sense, the nutritional plane and the confinement conditions had significant influence.

Keywords : Confinement; gastrointestinal strongyles; Pelibuey sheep.

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