The influence of dietary protein on some blood biochemical parameters in Scottish blackface sheep experimentally infected with Trypanosoma congolense.

The present study investigated the influence of dietary protein on some blood biochemical parameters, namely lipids, proteins, iron, glucose and B-hydroxybutyrate, in Scottish Blackface sheep infected with Trypanosoma congolense, and given either a low protein (51.5 g digestible crude protein per day) or a high protein (116 g digestible crude protein per day) diet. Both low and high protein diets were isocaloric and animals were monitored for 10 weeks after infection. It was observed that infection was associated with marked reduction in the concentrations of plasma total lipids, cholesterol, phospholipids and non-esterified fatty acids in both dietary groups. Control animals on a high protein diet had higher concentrations of plasma total lipids and cholesterol than those on a low protein diet. Infection caused severe hypoalbuminaemia and reduction in total iron-binding capacity only in the low protein infected group compared to their controls while the changes in the high protein infected and control groups were similar. Control animals receiving a high protein diet had higher concentrations of plasma albumin and total iron-binding capacity than those receiving a low protein diet. These observations suggest that Trypanosoma congolense infection in sheep is associated with marked changes in blood biochemical parameters, some of which are influenced by dietary protein.