Effects of fasciola hepatica infection on iron copper and zinc levels in livers and kidneys of lambs

SUMMARY EFFECTS OF FASCIOLA HEPATICA INFECTION ON IRON COPPER AND ZINC LEVELS IN LIVERS AND KIDNEYS OF LAMBS Fasciola hepatica is an important helminhtic disease of livestock in Turkey, causing significant morbidity with grave economic losses. The amounts of zinc, copper and iron in livers and kidneys of Fasciola hepatica- infected and non-infected were investigated. A total of 40 lamb liver and kidney materials were collected from slaughterhouse in Diyarbakır in January 1999. We measured copper, iron and zinc levels in livers and kidneys by using Atomic Absorbtion Spectrometry. The data of trace elements were expressed in ng/g/wet weight. Twenty infected and twenty non-infected lambs were used to study the effect of infection caused by Fasciola hepatica in Zn, Fe and Cu concentrations in liver and kidney tissues. Infected lambs had considerably lower Fe and Zn concentrations in liver compared to non-infected ones, p<0.05, p<0.001, whereas as regards Cu concentration in liver, no significant difference was observed between infected and non-infected lambs (p>0.05). There was no significant difference Fe, Zn and Cu levels in kidney tissues between infected and non-infected groups (p>0.05). In conclusion, Fe and Zn are required to be added to the diet of lambs naturally infected with fascioliasis. Key words: Iron, Copper, Zinc, Liver, Kidney, Lamb