Pathological changes associated with Oesophagostomum columbianum infestations in sheep: Serum protein changes after first infestation

Abstract

The serum proteins of worm-free crossbred lambs were found to vary over a period of 10 weeks. Infestation of these lambs with 2000 infective Oesophagostomum columbianum larvae also caused marked changes in various serum proteins separated by cellulose acetate electrophoresis.

The total serum proteins of infested sheep remained static or decreased slightly over the period of observation. There was a marked hypoalbuminaemia (measured in grams per cent.) in the infested lambs. The α-globulin retained the same level as in the controls; this was attributed to compensatory synthesis to overcome the osmotic changes produced by albumin loss. The ß₁-globulin decreased throughout infestations; both albumin and ß₁-globulin could have been lost through inflammation of the alimentary tract. The ß₂-globulin increased very greatly during infestation; this was attributed to an immunological response. The y-globulin level at first decreased, but after 10 days the level increased at a rate commensurate with that in the control lambs. This increase was also attributed to an immunological response.