Moderate and high levels of dietary protein on clinico-biochemical and production responses of lambs to repeated Haemonchus contortus infection

Haemonchus contortus alters distribution and utilization of protein and amino acids in different tissues of host sheep

The objective was to determine host animal protein/amino acid redistribution and use among the abomasum, duodenum and muscle of sheep infected with Haemonchus contortus. Sixteen male Ujumqin sheep (32.4 ± 3.9 kg) were dewormed and randomly assigned to two groups, infected or not infected with H. contortus (GIN and CON). The GIN group had lower (P < 0.05) dry matter intake, average daily gain, and live body weight than CON, with extensive focal infiltration of lymphocytes in the lamina propria and bottom of the abomasal epithelium. In the abomasum and duodenum, there were 100 and 220 genes, respectively, that were up-regulated, whereas 56 and 149 were down-regulated. In the abomasum, the most enriched KEGG pathways were related to immunity and inflammation reaction, including: viral protein interaction with cytokine and cytokine receptor (P = 0.017), influenza A (P = 0.030), IL-17 signaling pathway (P = 0.030). In the duodenum, KEGG pathways were more enriched in nutrient metabolism, including pancreatic secretion (P < 0.001), protein digestion and absorption (P < 0.001), graft-versus-host disease (P = 0.004). Furthermore, most genes related with the above KEGG pathways were increased in the abomasum but decreased in the duodenum. Amino acid profiles in abomasum and duodenum of CON and GIN groups were clustered in a partial least-squares discriminant analysis model, with significant changes in 36 and 19 metabolites in abomasal and duodenal chyme, respectively. Further confirmed by transcriptome-targeted metabolome association analysis, GIN mainly enhanced metabolism of arginine and sulphur amino acids in abomasum and those metabolic pathways were associated. Meanwhile, GIN mainly decreased pyruvate related amino acid metabolism in duodenum. Moreover, concentrations of Arg (P = 0.036), His (P = 0.027), and Cys (P = 0.046) in longissimus thoracis et lumborum were decreased in GIN, whereas concentrations of Gly (P = 0.012) and Ala (P = 0.046) were increased. In conclusion, H. contortus enhanced metabolism of arginine and sulphur amino acids in the abomasum; decreased pyruvate metabolism in the duodenum; and drove more protein/amino acids for abomasal tissues to resist physical and immune damage, reducing protein and amino acids in duodenum and muscle for support host growth. Specific nutrients (such like arginine, histidine, and cysteine) may play important role in control gastrointestinal nematode infection for ruminant.

An ethnopharmacological approach to evaluate antiparasitic and health-promoting abilities of Pueraria tuberosa (Willd.) DC. in livestock

In eastern India, the tubers of Pueraria tuberosa (Willd.) DC. are used by the ethnic communities for its wide range of medicinal and nutritional value, especially to rejuvenate livestock health and to treat helminthiasis. The study is aimed to evaluate the ethnoveterinary medicinal importance of P. tuberosa as anthelmintic, to verify its nontoxic nature and identify the most potent phytoconstituents aided by in silico molecular docking technique. Ethnomedicinal data collected from 185 informants were quantitatively analyzed employing eight quantitative indices to highlight the use diversity and most frequently used part of the plant. High scores of certain indices employed, such as Use Value (UV = 0.52), Fidelity Level (FL = 68.42%) and Tissue Importance Value (TIV = 1) clearly illustrate an ethnomedicinal lead regarding medico-nutritional benefits of the tuber part used against intestinal helminthic diseases of veterinary animals. Based on this ethno-guided lead, root tuber has been investigated for its chemical profiling by the estimation of total phenolics, flavonoids, tannins and alkaloids, along with HPLC and GC-MS analyses. Anthelmintic property was evaluated with the tuber extracts by in vitro studies on some helminths of livestock and poultry birds, and it showed promising results against the tested parasites namely Cotylophoron cotylophorum, Raillietina tetragona and Setaria cervi. Toxicity assessments of tuber extract through in vitro and in vivo methods were performed using Vero cells and BALB/c mice. Nontoxic nature of the studied tuber extract was observed even in higher experimental doses. Out of 12 phytocompounds identified by GC-MS analysis, one compound [Morphinan-4,5-epoxy-3,6-di-ol,6- (7-nitrobenzofurazan-4-yl) amino-] exhibited the best binding conformations in cost of the lowest binding energy values with six target proteins that include one anti-inflammatory, one antioxidant, and four anthelmintic proteins. The findings of our study are found very encouraging to evaluate this tuber drug furthermore intensively towards the development of anthelmintic veterinary medicine.

Haemonchus contortus Infection Alters Gastrointestinal Microbial Community Composition, Protein Digestion and Amino Acid Allocations in Lambs

The objective of this study was to investigate associations between gastrointestinal microbiota and protein metabolism of lambs infected with Haemonchus contortus. Sixteen male Ujumqin lambs (initial body weight = 32.4 ± 3.9 kg) were dewormed and randomly assigned to 2 equal groups, to be infected or not infected with Haemonchus contortus (GIN and CON, respectively). The experiment lasted 77 days. The GIN lambs had lower packed cell volume (PCV) and increased wormegg count (WEC) after 14 days. Furthermore, in infected lambs, there were decreases in apparent digestibility of dry matter (P = 0.011), crude protein (P = 0.004) and ether extract (P = 0.007), as well as decreased ruminal pepsin (P < 0.001) and lipase (P = 0.032) activity but increased ruminal α-amylase (P = 0.004) and cellulase activity (P = 0.002), and decreased jejunal α-amylase activity (P = 0.033). In addition, infection with H. contortus decreased alpha diversity of the gastrointestinal microbial community in the rumen, abomasum and duodenum, although microbiota associated with carbohydrate and proteolytic metabolism were increased and up to 32 KEGG pathways in the duodenum were predicted to be significantly affected. In conclusion, H. contortus infection in lambs altered the gastrointestinal microbial community composition and disturbed protein digestion and allocation of absorbed amino acids. These results provided insights into consequences of H. contortus infection in lambs and could facilitate development of novel nutritional strategies to improve animal health.

Dietary protein degradability effect on performance of lambs experimentally infected with Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis

The study investigated the effects of dietary protein degradation rate on growth performance and immune response of crossbred Dorper × short-tail Han ram lambs experimentally infected with Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis. Eighteen lambs were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments, rapidly degradable protein (RDP), moderately degradable protein (MDP), and slowly degradable protein (SDP) diets. Feed intake and body weight of the lambs were recorded weekly until 42 days post-infection. The fecal egg count (FEC), FAMACHA scores, and immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM and IgA) were also monitored during the experimental period. A metabolic trial was conducted to assess apparent digestibility and volatile fatty acids were also determined. The lambs in SDP and MDP groups had higher feed, nutrient intake, weight gain, and feed efficiency than those in the RDP group. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) of the lambs in RDP group was higher than those in the SDP and MDP groups. A significant (P < 0.001) decrease in FEC was observed in the SDP and MDP groups. Dietary treatment had no significant effect on FAMACHA scores and concentration of serum antibodies. Concentration of acetic acid was higher (P < 0.013) in the lambs fed RDP than those fed the SDP and MDP diets. The lambs fed SDP diet had higher apparent digestibility than those fed the RDP diet. The poor performances in RDP group could be overcome by including SDP that ensures adequate post-ruminal protein supply reaching the small intestine.

Nitrogen retention in hair sheep lambs with a gradient of Haemonchus contortus infection

The impact of Haemonchus contortus infections on nitrogen retention (NR) of hair sheep lambs is unknown. This study estimated the feed intake, digestibility, NR, haematocrit (HT), and their relationship with the gradient of H. contortus infection in hair sheep lambs. Twenty-four hair sheep lambs, 3-4 months old, reared parasite-free were used (live weight (LW) 16.7 ± 1.7 kg). Six lambs were kept parasite-free, nine lambs received a dose of 300 H. contortus infective larvae (L₃)/kg LW, and the remaining nine lambs received 500 H. contortus L₃/kg LW. Infection doses ranged from 3870 to 9,500 L₃. Lambs were individually fed for an average daily gain (ADG) of 100 g. On days 1 (P < 0.01) and 7 (P < 0.001) post-infection (PI), the L₃ doses were positively associated with HT, possibly due to platelet recruitment. On week 1 PI, the infection (L₃) reduced the crude protein (CP) intake (g/kg metabolic LW) (P < 0.05). A reduction of 1% HT corresponded to 1200 eggs per gram of faeces (EPG) for day 21 PI (P < 0.05), 2300 EPG for day 28 PI (P < 0.001), 2400 EPG for day 35 (P < 0.001), and 1300 EPG for day 41 PI (P < 0.001). However, the HT levels were never lower than 21 %. A lower CP digestibility was associated with EPG only on week 5 PI (P < 0.05). There was no significant association between EPG, Total egg in faeces, or worm burden (WB) with intake, dry matter digestibility (DMD), ADG or NR. The NR of lambs was positive along the different weeks of study irrespective of infection level. The WB was negatively associated only with HT on day 41 PI (P < 0.001), where a 1 % HT reduction was estimated for every 257 worms hosted. In conclusion, no relationship was found between H. contortus infection and DMD, ADG or NR in hair sheep lambs. The cost of H. contortus infection resulted only from the HT reduction and depended on the gradient and stage of the infection.

In-vivo anthelmintic activity assessment to dietary incorporation of natural feed additives in sheep: A comparative study

Anthelmintic activity to dietary incorporation of exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (EFE) and wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.) herb as feed additives was evaluated. Twenty crossbred lambs (11.58±0.01 kg body weight) were distributed into four dietary treatments in completely randomized design and fed for a period of 90 days followed by 6 day digestibility trial. Animals in all the groups were offered oats straw based total mixed ration added with EFE’s cocktail at 0.60% substrate dry matter (DM) level (T1) or wormwood herb at 4.50% substrate DM level (T2) either alone, and in-combination of the two feed additives (T3), whereas the TMR without addition of any additive served as control (T0). In vivo anthelmintic assays and selected haemato-biochemical parameters of animals were evaluated at start (0d) and subsequently at monthly intervals (30, 60 and 90d). The feed additives in-combination improved nutrient digestibility and digestible nutrient intakes per day. Wormwood herb inclusion had significant positive effect on overall treatment means as well as at each feeding period of per cent faecal egg count reduction and at 90 day period of faecal parasitic eggs per gram assay. Blood profile revealed better physiological health status of lambs fed feed additives compared to those of control group. It is concluded that incorporation of wormwood had better anthelmintic activity and the two feed additives act synergistically in sheep to improve nutrient utilisation and gastrointestinal infested host’s health.

Influence of metabolizable protein and minerals supplementation on detrimental effects of endoparasitic nematodes infection in small ruminants

Endoparasitic nematode infection could have negative impacts on performances of sheep and goats. However, supplementary protein and minerals can also affect nematodes. This paper reviews present information on the importance of protein and minerals supplementation as means to control nematode infection in small ruminants. Protein supplementation seems to improve host resilience by diverting metabolizable protein (MP) towards dealing with detrimental effects of the infection and thus improve production and reproductive performances of animal. A large body of evidence shows that supplementation of copper, iron, and zinc can also enhance host resistance against nematode infection as shown by decreased fecal egg count (FEC) and worm burdens. As such, protein and mineral supplementations can play a major role in sustainable control of parasitic nematode infection and thus reduce reliance on chemotherapic drugs.

Losses caused by gastrointestinal nematode infections in Dorper lambs under two nutritional status

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of two nutritional statuses on the productive performance of Dorper lambs naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes. Thirty-two lambs, grazing together on the same pasture, were allocated into four experimental groups: (G1) infected-supplemented diet, (G2) control-supplemented diet, (G3) infected-basal diet, and (G4) control-basal diet. Control animals received suppressive treatment with monepantel every two weeks, while precautionary anthelmintic treatments were given to all lambs of the infected groups with packed cell volume (PCV) <23%. There was reduction in the PCV means of all groups, which was more pronounced in the infected lambs that also presented reduction in total plasma protein values in comparison with the controls. Weight gain was affected by diet and infection status (P < 0.05). Daily body weight gain was 0.170 kg in the G1, 0.205 kg in the G2, 0.085 kg in the G3, and 0.116 kg in the G4. The cold carcass weight was 4.1% and 13.7% higher in controls in comparison with infected lambs, respectively, in the supplemented and basal diets. The infected groups, despite receiving precautionary anthelmintic treatments to prevent deaths due to haemonchosis, presented reduction in the production parameters in comparison with the controls.