Effect of Lice and Tick Infestation on Some Immunological Parameters in Sheep and Goats

Abstract

Four species of ticks, Hyalomma sp., were collected from sheep and goats. , Boophilus, Rhipicephalus and a new species recorded for the first time in Salah al-Din Governorate / Iraq, which is the genus Amblyomma.

     The results showed that by examining 810 heads of sheep of both sexes, the number of sheep that were infected with blood parasites (Theileria, Babesia, and Anaplasma) reached 385 infected sheep, with the highest infection recorded for Theileria by 6%, followed by Babesia by 5.4%. As for Anaplasma, it was recorded The lowest percentage is 3.52%. As for goats, 330 heads of both sexes were examined, and the number of infected goats was 158 heads, and infections of Babesia were recorded at a rate of 9.16%, while Theileria recorded a lower infection rate of (5.1%), while no infections were recorded in Anaplasma.

        The results of the current study showed the effect of parasites on the blood picture. The results of the study showed that there was a significant increase (P≤ 0.01) in the rate of eosinophil white blood cells in the case of infection with Theileria, Babesia and Anaplasma parasites.

     The results of the study showed that there were significant differences in the level of IgG antibody in male sheep and goats infected with lice, ticks and blood parasites, as the ratio was 2.917 ± 0.907 and 3.39 ± 1.60, respectively. No significant differences were recorded in female sheep and goats in the level of IgG antibody, as the rate was 2.90 ± 0.45 and 3.35 ± 1.07 in infected females.

     Significant differences were recorded in males and females of infected sheep and goats in the INFƴ level, which amounted to 155.5 ± 9.19 and 187.5 ± 19.4 in males, and in females it was 121.5 ± 21.4 and 186.7 ± 23 .5.

     The results showed that there were no significant differences between male and female sheep when measuring the level of interleukin 17 (IL-17), it was 40.01 ± 5.70 and 41.9 ± 7.00, respectively. While significant differences were recorded in infected male and female goats, reaching 145.0 ± 16.1 and 136.0 ± 15.8, respectively.

     As for interleukin 12 (IL-12), significant differences were recorded in infected female sheep and infected male and female goats, while no significant differences were recorded in infected male sheep, as it reached 154.8 ± 16.9 in sheep and 361.0 ± 27.8 and 216.3 ± 216.3 in goats. 24.2. While it was 140.20 ± 7.60 for male sheep.

     Significant differences appeared in infected males and females of sheep in the level of IL-6, where values were recorded as 83.7 ± 7.8 and 41.5 ± 6.6, and significant differences were also recorded in infected female goats, which were 83.8 ± 18.2, while no significant differences were recorded in male goats. infected, where it was 99.3 ± 10.1.