Browsing by Author "Motsi, Leonah R."

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    Alteration of some Hepatic Enzyme Activities by Gastrointestinal Helminth Parasites in Domesticated Ostritches.
    (Society of Education, 2013-05-05) Siwela, Andrew H.; Motsi, Leonah R.; Dube, S.
    Using the conventional methods for parasitological examinations of the salt floatation and direct smear, ten ostriches infected with internal parasites were identified. Ten birds that were without internal parasites were used as the controls. The metabolizing enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GPX), DT -diaphorase (DTD) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) were assayed accordingly using liver samples from the control and infected birds. Malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxdation, was also assayed. Results showed that cestode eggs occurred at twice the amount of nematode eggs in the faeces of infected ostriches. Infected birds showed significantly higher DTD activity when compared to non-infected birds (Student’s t test, p < 0.05) whilst the activities of SDH and GPX were statistically not altered (Student’s t test p > 0.05). MDA levels were significantly elevated in infected birds compared to controls (Student’s t test, p < 0.001). These results suggest that infected birds are under oxidative stress due to the parasitic infection . Key words: Cestodes, nematodes, glutathione peroxidase, DT-diaphorase, Succinate dehydrogenase, malodialdehyde