Investigation of Acute Phase Reactants and Antioxidant Capacity in Calves Infected with Cryptosporidium parvum

Abstract

Cryptosporidiosis is a zoonotic infection contaminating via fecal-oral route. Cryptosporidium parvum has a wide host prevalance, but is more epidemic in calves. This disease courses with high morbidity and mortality resulting considerable economic losses. In this study, halofuginon (100 mu g /kg/day for 7 days) was applied to calves infected with C. parvum and the effect of this treatment on acute phase proteins and antioxidant capacity were investigated. Study group was comprised of sera of 10 Holstein calves aged 1-3 weeks, infected with C. parvum. Blood samples were obtained from the animals before and after treatment of 7 days and serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (Hp), C-reactive protein (CRP), ceruloplasmin (CP), malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) activities were measured in sera. Obtained data showed that there was no statistical difference between pre and post treatment SAA, CRP and MDA levels, but a decrease was determined in post treatment Hp (P<0.001) and CP (P<0.05) levels, with ADA (P<0.05) and SOD (P<0.001) activities. Eventually, it was determined that ADA and SOD activities and Hp and CP levels decreases by treatment in calves infected with C. parvum.