Biochemical content of Cysticercus tenuicollis Cysts and changes to haemato-biochemical indices of infected sheep and goats in the Northwest Region of Cameroon

Aim: This study was carried out to analyse the fluid biochemical content of C. tenuicollis cyst and effect on hematological and biochemical parameters of the infection in sheep and goats in Northwest Cameroon. Methods: Blood samples collected from 1106 small ruminants (493 sheep and 613 goats) used to determine the prevalence of C. tenuicollis were used to analyse haematology and serum biochemical indices. Biochemical content of isolated C. tenuicollis cyst was analysed. Post mortem to detect C. tenuicollis cysts and analysis of haematological and biochemical parameters were performed based on standard procedures. Results: The results showed no significant difference (p>0.05) between the haematological and serum biochemical profiles of goats and sheep infected with C. tenuicollis cyst and those not infected according to the different factors in the study. However, the red blood cell counts were below the reference ranges in both species. The biochemical analysis revealed higher (p>0.05) mean values of glucose, total protein, cholesterol, uric acid, potassium, sodium and calcium in C. tenuicollis cysts isolated from goats compared to those from sheep. Sodium was the major mineral content of C. tenuicollis cysts of sheep and goats. Conclusion: The study showed that C. tenuicollis infection causes no significant variation in the haematological and biochemical parameters in sheep and goats in relation to body condition score, age, sex, and species. The haematological indices for infected and non-infected animals were comparable. The PCV, haemoglobin content and white blood cell count values were within the normal reference ranges while RBC was not within the normal reference range for sheep and goats. The serum biochemical profiles were similar to biochemical content of C. tenuicollis cyst in the study, non-significant variations between the levels of some parameters in serum and cyst were observed. This study highlights the essential of understanding the life cycle of the C. tenuicollis in relation to its interaction with the host, and potential control strategies.