Immunological Response of Cattle to Gastro-S Intestinal Helminth Burden and Treatment Choices in a Ssemi- intensive Management System

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the relationship and effect of sex, on the immunological response of 40 cattle to helminth infection over twelve weeks’ period in a longitudinal study. The cattle were managed in a semi intensive system and are made up of 29 cows and 11 bulls. Blood and fecal samples were collected at the beginning of the study and taken to laboratory of the state Veterinary Hospital, Minna for Hematology, Immunology and Parasitological examination. The cattle were divided into four groups A, B, C and D. Group A was controlled while Group B, C and D were administered Albendazole, Levamisole, and Baminth F dewormers respectively. Thereafter, blood and fecal samples were collected weekly for twelve weeks and analyzed in the laboratory. The results that there is significance (p<0.05) difference in the weight changes, hemoglobin, packed cell volume(PCV) and white blood cell(WBC) with treatment 4 having highest value compared to other treatments. However, the control treatment (T1) and (T3) show similarities. There was also no significant difference (p>0.05) in the immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin D but immunoglobulin A, E and M differs significantly (p<0.05) with the control cattle group having the highest titre. It was concluded that administration of antihelminth drugs lower immunoglobulin titre in cattle. It is recommended that routine deworming exercise be carried out on cattle to minimize the helminth infection.