K VIJAYAKUMARAN NAIR and A M NADAKAL Department of Zoology, Mar Ivanios College, Trivandrum , India

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1 Proc. ndian Acad. Sci. (Anim. Sci.), Vol. 9, Number, November 90, pp. -9. Printed in ndia. Metabofic disturbances caused by Raillietina tetragona (Cestoda) infection in domestic fowl: Effect of infection on certain aspects of protein metabolism K VJAYAKUMARAN NAR and A M NADAKAL Department of Zoology, Mar vanios College, Trivandrum 9 0, ndia MS received May 90 Abstract. The effects of two levels of infection with 0 and 0 eysticercoids of Raillietina tetragona (Cestoda) on certain aspects of protein metabolism of White Leghorn chickens were studied for a period of weeks post-infection. nfection had no effect on the total protein content of liver while that in intestinal tissues was slightly reduced. The free amino acid nitrogen in the blood was not altered during infection. The serum total proteins and the serum albuminglobulin ratio were reduced significantly in infected birds. The hypoproteinemia was mainly due to the hypoalbuminemia. The infected birds gained significantly less weight than the uninfected ones. The lowered,serum proteins is correlated with the lowered weight gain. Pathological changes were more pronounced in birds infected with 0 cysticercoids and during the period from to weeks post-infection. Keywords. Cestode infection; domestic fowl; protein metabolism ; Raillietina tetragona. L ~troduetion Gastro-intestinal parasites, apart from causing histopathologioal changes in the gut, are also known to pause various types of metabolic d~rangements in host animals (A Rabii and Platt 9; von Brand 9; Symons 99; Mayer and Pappas 9). Loss of appetite, impaired digestion and malabsorption of nutrients also ocour during helminth parasitism of the gut (Mulligan 9). Most of the available literature in this line is eon~ntrated on the pathophysiology of the parasitised intestin~ rather than eluaidating the mor~ widespread metabolic impairments resulting from the malfunctioning of the gut. Cestodes are also involved as agents in setting up different types of physiological derangements in host animals. A study was, therefore, undertaken to evaluate the effects of the e~stodo, Raillietina tetragona, infoztion on certain aspects of protein metabolism of domestic fowl. '. 0)--,

2 K Vijayakumaran Nair and A M Nadakal. Materials and methods.. Animals One day-old White Leghorn chicks were obtained from the nearby Government hatchery at Kodappanakunnu, near Trivandrum and re,red in the laboratory avoiding chances of extraneous infection. Two-week-old birds of uniform weight were selected for experiments. nfective cystieercoids of R. tetragona recovered from naturally infected ant vectors, Pheidole sp., Tetramorium shnillimum and T. caespetum were transferred to physiological saline. The birds were infected per os using a fine sterile dropper... Experimental design Two groups, A an B, each consisting of 0 birds were maintained in separate cages. Each bird from group A and group B was given 0 and 0 cystieercoids respeetivety. Group C consisted of 0 uninfected birds which served as the controls. On days,,,,,, 9 and post-infection (P), 0 birds each from groups A, B and C were saarificed... Autopsy procedure The blood samples were eouected from the wing vein just b~fore autopsy. The birds were kiued by cervical dislocation. The livers and small intestine were transferred to physiological saline. Pieces of liver tissue were rinsed thoroughly, blotted dry, weighed and used for biochemical estimation of proteins. The small intestine was split open and worms attached to the intestinal walt removed carefully, before subsequent processing. Sections of small intestine from the regions of worm attachment were rinsed, blotted dry, weighed and protein eontent estimated... Methods The serum total proteins, serum albumin:globulin (A/G) ratio and the free amino acid nitrogen content of blood were determined in aaeordance with the methods given by Kolmer et al (99), and the tissue proteins were estimated by the method of Lowry et al (9). Bovine serum albumin was used as a standard for the assay of proteins. For weight gain studies 0 birds each, from groups A, B and C, were weighed at weekly intervals for weeks. The data were statistically analysed using the student's t test for probability of significange of difference between means. Differene, os were recorded as significant whenever probability (P) was less than Results The total protein content of fiver of infected birds did not show significant differenge from that of the uninfected controls (figure ), while it was slightly decreased in the infected intestinal tissues (figure ). The free amp.no acid nitrogen content of the blood was not altered due to infection (figure ). The serum total proteins of infected birds showed a significant depletion beginning from rd week

3 Metabolic disturbances in fowl CL.~ -~ - Weeks post mfechon Figure. Total protein content of livers of uninfected and R. tetragona infected chickens. A - - b i r d s infected with 0 cysticercoids, B - birds infected with_ 0 cysticercoids, and C--~ uninfected controls. ~ t- E,,._ ()., Weeks post infection Figure. Total protein content of intestine of uninfected and R. tetragona infected chickens. c --o o9 ~EO h Figure. chickens. _ Weeks post tnfechon Free amino acid nitrogen content of uninfected and R. tetragona infected

4 K Vijayakumaran Nair and A M Nadakal *.0 O. ~. - o E" " ] J_ Weeks post infeclion Figure. Sertun total proteins of urtinfectcd and R. tetragona infected chickens... ~.0 0. t Weeks post infection Figure. Serum albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio in uninfected and R. tetragona infected chickens. P (figure ). The degree of alteration was more pronounced in group B birds. The lowest serum total protein level was recorded during the th week P. Lowered A/G ratio was concurrent with the lowered serum total proteins (figure ). n groups A and B birds there was a aonsistent decrease in the albumin fraction of the serum. The fall in albumin content and A/G ratio was more prominent during the th week P[, and these changes were intensified in group B birds. The infocted birds of both A and B groups gained significantly less weight than their uninfected control counterparts (figure ). The B group birds gained less weight than the birds of group A.

5 Metabolic disturbances in fowl 0 O~ c 0 0 ~ oo 0 Weeks post infecl~on Figure. Weight gairt of uninfected and R. tetragona infected chickens. Standard errors axe strewn for those data which differ sigrtifieantly (in figures -).. Discussion Cestodes are known to cause various kinds of disturbances in the host's metabolism (Aekert and Case 9; yon Brand 9; Gleason 9; Mayer and Pappas 9; Pappas 9). Nadakal and Vijayakumaran Nair (99) have indicated such an adverse effect and revealed alterations in the carbohydrate components of the various tissues like liver, intestinal mucosa and blood of chickens infected with R. tetragona. However, the present study has shown that the protein content of liver was not altered, but it was slightly reduced in the intestinal tissues due to the infection. While reporting on the biochemical alterations in the organs of mouse consequent on Hymenolepis microstoma infection, Pappas (9) noted little change as regards the protein component of intestine, liver and bile duct. The serum total proteins depleted significantly in infected birds. The lowered albumin : globulin ratio observed was mainly due to the decrease in the albumin fraction. Lowered serum total proteins and A/G ratios have been reported in various helminthic infections (Kagan and Goodchild 9; Dobson 9; Viana and de Campos 9; Buchwalder et al 9; Georg et al 9). Maldigestion and malabsorption in the infected intestine together with the loss of serum proteins espeoially albumin into the gut may be suggestd as factors responsible for the hypoproteinomia and hypoalbuminemia in the R. tetragona infected chickens. The infected birds suffered from significantly lowered weight gain. Lowered weight gain and poor growth rate consequent on cestoda infeations have ba~a

6 K Vijayakumaran Nair and A M Nadakal reported by several investigators (Aok~rt and Case 9; Harwooc~ and Lutte~moser 9; Srivastava and Pande 9; Mathur and Paade 9; Chand 9; Nadakal et al 9, 9). The data on the effect of R. tetragona infection on the weight gain of the fowl are roughly in accord with the above observations. Nadakal et al (9) also reported that the egg-laying was markedly reduced in R. tetragona infected chickens. Mathur and Pande (99)and Nadakal et al (9) demonstrated that the various deficiency symptoms wore intensified as a consequence of R. cesticilhts and R. tetragona irtfeetions in chickens. Symons (9) suggested that anorexia exacerbated by loss of serum proteins is the most important pathophysiologieal response of the host to gastro-iv.testinal infe0tions. Both anorexia and serum protein loss affect protein metabolism, and may be coneeived as being, among other factors, responsible for the poor growth rate. Mowever, preliminary studies (Nadakal et al 9) indi0ated the absence of anorexia in chickens infected with R. tetragona. Some otber, factors like derangements in the normal digestion and absorpti0, of nutrients especially proteivs may also be responsible for the poor growth rate, as reflected in the lowered weight gain of chickens infeoted with this worm. A highe; degree of infection with 0 oystieerooids definitely had an intensifying effect on the various pathological changes observed. Acknowledgements This research has been financed by grant from University Grants Commission, N~w Delhi, awarded to AMN. Authors thank the authorities of Mar vanios College, for facilities. References Ackert J E and Case A A 9 Effects of the tapeworm Raillietina eesticillus (Molin) on growing chickens ; Y. Parasitol. A Rabii H A and Platt B S 9 Effect of chronic round worm infection (Toxoeara canis) on protein metabolisra in dogs fed diets of different protein value ; Prec. Nutr. Soc. yon Brand T 9 Biochemistry of Parasites (New York : Academic Press) -9 Buchwalder Rente, Daetz H H, Hiepe T and Schmidt H U 9 Studies on influencing weight gain and metabolic processes in sheep for experimental Fasciola hepatica infections in the resence of a low intensity parasitism ; Angew. Parasitol. -9 Chand K 9 Pathology of some common cestodes in the fowl ; The Haryana Veterinarian 0 - Dobson C 9 Pathological changes associated with Oesophagostomum columbianum infestations in sheep : serum protein changes in relation to multiple infestation, intensity of infestation and immunity ; Austr. J. Agric. Res. 9-9 Georg S L, Frank M S Jr, Elisa R, Vanessa C and Labrum R 9 Trichinella spiralis : Alterations of blood chemistry in the mouse ; Exp. Parasitol. -9 Gleason L N 9 The responses of white mouse to a primary infection with Hymenolepis microstoma; Y. Elisha Mitchell Sci. Soc. - Harwood P D and Luttermoser G W 9 The influence of infections with the tapeworm Raillietina cesticillus, on the growth of chickens ; Prec. Helminthol. Soc. Wash. 0- Kagan and Goodchild C G 9 Paper electrophoresis of sera from man and experimental animals infected with various helminths ; Y. Parasitol. - Kolmer J A, Spaulding E H and Robinson H W 99 Approved laboratory technic (Calcutta: Scientific Book Agency) Lowry O H, Rosebrough N J, Farr A L and Randall R J 9 Protein measurement with Folin phenol reagent; J. Biol. Chem. 9 -

7 Metabolic disturbances in fowl 9 Mathur S C and Pande B P 99 Raillietina eesticillus and R. tetragona infections in chicks reared on normal and deficient feeds--an experimental study ; ndian J. Anim. Sci. 9 - Mayer L P and Pappas P W 9 Hymenolepis microstoma : Effect of the mouse bile duct tapeworm on the metabolic rate of CF- mice; Exp. Parasitol Mulligan W 9 The effect of helminth infection on the protein metabolism of the host; Prec. Nutr. Soc. - Nadakal A M, Muraleedharan K, John K O and Mohandas A 9 Resistance potential of certain breeds of domestic fowl exposed to Raillietina tetragona infections. V. Pathogenic effects of the cestode on growing chickens ; dpn. J. Parasitol Nadakal A M, John K O, Mohandas A and Simon M 9 Resistance potential of certain breeds of domestic fowl exposed to Raillietina tetragona infections. X. Effect of protein deficient diet on R. tetragona infection; Rev. Parasitol. -9 Nadakal A M, John K O, Mohandas A arid Simon M 9 ~sistance potential of certain breeds of domestic fowl exposed to Raillietina tetragona infections. X. Effects of R. tetragona infection on egg-laying birds ; Arch. Geflugelk. - Nadakal A M and Vijayakumaran Nair K 99 Studies on the metabolic disturbances caused by Raillietina tetragona (C~stoda) infection in domestic fowl : Effect of infection on certain aspects of carbohydrate metabolism ; ndian J. Exp. Biol. 0- Pappas P W 9 Biochemical alterations in organs of mice infected with Hymenolepis micro. stoma, the mouse bile duct tapeworm ; d. Parasitol. - Srivastava J S and Pande B P 9 On the effects of Raillietina (Raillietina) tetragona and R. (Skrjabinia) cesticillus infection in weight gains of laboratory raised ckickens-a preliminary study ; ndian J. Anita. Health 9-00 Symons L E A 99 Pathology of gastro-intestinal helminthiases ; nt. Rev. Trop. Med Symons L E A 9 Ma!absorption ; in Pathology of parasitic infection (New York : Academic Press) - Viana E S and de Campos J M 9 Blood serum electrophoresi~, total protein and albumin/ globulin relationship (A/G) in calves with naturally ac:tuired gastro-intestinal worm infestations; Arq. Esc. Univ. Fed. Minas Gerais 9-