Hematological and biochemical parameters of rabbits experimentally infested with Psoroptes cuniculi

Abstract

Haematological and serum biochemical changes were monitored in 12 adult rabbits with average weight of 2.0kg. Eight of the rabbits were experimentally infested with Psoroptes cuniculi, while the other four served as control. The rabbits were monitored for 28 days. The observed clinical signs during the disease period were intense scratching of the ear and head, slight anorexia, emaciation, ear cancer, pale mucous membrane and excoriation. There was a decrease in the red blood cell count and the packed cell volume (PCV), with corresponding lower haemoglobin concentrations. There was a rise in the lymphocyte count, the neutrophils decreased and there was rise in the eosinophil count. The biochemical parameters affected were the bicarbonate and potassium ions, which increased at early stages of infestation but later decreased towards the end of the experiment below normal values. The serum globulin and albumin also increased during the course of the disease process but was not above normal values, while the serum urea value decreased below the normal values.

The Nigerian Journal of Parasitology Vol. 24 2003: 161-166