Comparative evaluation of haemato-biochemical and oxidative stress markers in natural patent and latent infection of Theileria equi in horses.

Abstract

Relative association of haemato-biochemical findings with oxidative stress markers was evaluated between natural patent and latent infection of Theileria equi in horses to divulge the role of these parameters in the pathogenesis of illness due to non-availablity in literature. Blood samples were collected from 429 equines of 16 districts of the Punjab and samples positive by conventional microscopy (patent Group I; olln = 13), by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (latent group II; n = 38) and healthy control (group III, n = 64) were compared for haematological-biochemical index and stress parameters. Significant anaemia in both group I and group II, and considerable neutrophilia and lymphocytopenia in group I in comparison to group II and group III was observed. Significant elevation in creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase and glucose while reduction in iron was noticed in both group I and group II. More level of lipid peroxides in patent group I followed by latent group II indicated more lipid peroxidation in erythrocytes and oxidative stress in declining order when compared with Group III. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GST) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) levels were lowered in Group I. An inverse association of RBC count with lipid peroxidation (PLO) and GSH and a direct relationship with catalase, SOD and FRAP was revealed. Findings indicated that oxidative damage plays an imperative function in pathogenesis of anaemia in horses due to T. equi infection and can be utilized as significant marker for latent and patent infection after well thought-out correlation with other haemato-biochemical findings.