Clinico-laboratory Studies on Pregnancy Toxemic Ewes in Beni-Suef Province

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Animal Medicine (Veterinary Internal Medicine), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University

Abstract

Pregnancy toxemia (PT) is a metabolic condition resulting from inability of the animal to maintain an adequate energy balance and commonly affecting older ewes carrying multiple fetuses during late pregnancy. The study was carried on eighteen pregnant ewes their age range was 5-8 years old (4th -8th parity) and their body weights range was 40-45kg. The ewes were divided into two groups; group I consists of nine clinically healthy ewes at 18th week pregnancy belonged to Seds-Research-farm, Beba, Beni-Suef province, which acts as control group, and group II consists of nine ewes at late gestation period (about 17-19th week pregnancy), admitted to our clinic, and suffering from anorexia, dullness and disinclined to move and suspected to be a case of pregnant toxemia. Biochemical analysis of blood serum from these animals indicated a significant decrease of glucose, cholesterol, LDL-C, triglyceride and phosphorus levels, while there was significant increase of insulin concentration, AST and ALT enzyme activities. There were insignificant changes in blood serum calcium, HDL-C, urea and creatinine concentrations.

Keywords