The effect of cysteine and glutamine supplementation on sheep
infected with Trichostrongylus colubriformis
S.O. HOSKIN, G.E. LOBLEY, R.L. COOP AND F. JACKSON
Rowett Research Institute, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, AB219SB,
Scotland
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NZSAP 2002 Abstract No. 20
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 62:
72-76
This indoor study investigated the effect of direct daily
abomasal supplementation of both cysteine (cys; 1g) and glutamine (gln;
5g) on a 12-week subclinical Trichostronglylus colubriformis
trickle infection in lambs. Parasite infection increased the total
number of leucocytes and eosinophils in peripheral circulation, nitrogen
excreted in faeces and urine (P</=0.01) and plasma total protein
concentration (P<0.05). Infection also reduced liveweight gain and
plasma albumin concentration (both P<0.001), but did not alter feed
intake. Supplementation increased nitrogen retention (P<0.05), tended
to increase phe (P=0.056) and cys (P=0.097) flux, reduced the number of
circulating eosinophils (P<0.001) and changed the pattern of faecal
egg counts (P</=0.05), with no effect on final nematode counts. This
experiment showed supplementation with two non-essential amino acids
alone can elicit changes in the response of sheep to internal parasite
infection.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
amino acids; internal parasites; sheep; protein flux;
eosinophilia
Last Updated 30/07/2002
