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Eosinophilia as a marker of resistance to Teladorsagia circumcincta in Scottish Blackface lambs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2002

M. J. STEAR ,
N. G. HENDERSON ,
A. KERR ,
Q. A. MCKELLAR ,
S. MITCHELL ,
C. SEELEY  and
S. C. BISHOP
M. J. STEAR
Affiliation:
Glasgow University Veterinary School, Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH
N. G. HENDERSON
Affiliation:
Glasgow University Veterinary School, Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH
A. KERR
Affiliation:
Glasgow University Veterinary School, Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH
Q. A. MCKELLAR
Affiliation:
Glasgow University Veterinary School, Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH Present address: Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0PZ.
S. MITCHELL
Affiliation:
Glasgow University Veterinary School, Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH
C. SEELEY
Affiliation:
Glasgow University Veterinary School, Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH
S. C. BISHOP
Affiliation:
Roslin Institute, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9PS
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Abstract

Faecal egg counts and peripheral blood eosinophil counts were taken from Scottish Blackface lambs following natural, predominantly Teladorsagia circumcincta infection. Peripheral eosinophil concentrations were higher in animals with lower egg counts but only in lambs that were at least 3 months of age. The reduced egg counts were due to reduced fecundity of T. circumcincta; there was no association with the number of adult T. circumcincta. Associations with the number of parasites from other species of gastrointestinal nematodes appeared to be neutral or favourable. Estimated heritabilities for eosinophil concentrations in 4- and 5-month-old lambs were 0·48±0·16 and 0·43±0·17, respectively. Therefore, under defined circumstances, eosinophil concentrations may be a useful indicator of resistance to predominantly T. circumcincta infection.

Keywords

sheepnematodaTeladorsagia circumcinctaeosinophilmarkerindicator trait
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 124 , Issue 5 , May 2002 , pp. 553 - 560
Copyright
2002 Cambridge University Press

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