Effects of Trichostrongylus colobriformis (Nematoda) on the nutrition and metabolism of sheep. IV.* Glucose metabolism

Abstract

The effect of infection with Trichostrongylus co!ubriformis on quantitative aspects of glucose metabolism was studied in 12 Merino lambs. Total entry rate, rate of irreversible loss and rate of recycling were measured simultaneously by means of [U-¹⁴C]glucose and [3-³H]glucose. The feed intake of all sheep was maintained at 540 g/day throughout the experiment. The total entry rate of glucose in infected sheep was greater than in their controls. There was a smaller difference in the irreversible loss of glucose because of increased recycling of glucose carbon in infected sheep. It was concluded that the rate of glucose synthesis was higher in infected sheep compared with control sheep on the same feed intake, because there was more recycling and possibly increased availability of propionate from the large intestine. However, this increase would not compensate for the reduced intake of glucose precursors by infected sheep fed ad libitum, so the overall effect of T. colubriformis infection would be to reduce glucose synthesis.

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*Part III, Aust. J. Agric. Res., 28: 155 (1977).