Evaluation of selected biochemical parameters and hepatic enzymes activity in serum of cattle naturally infected with Dicrocoelium dendriticum in Semnan Province, Iran

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of Dicrocoelium dendriticum on some biochemical parameters and hepatic enzymes activity in serum of cattle during the subclinical phase (asymptomatic) of the disease. Blood samples and liver of 33 indigenous cattle of Mazandarani breed, slaughtered in the period from September to November 2013, were collected. Based on parasitological findings in the liver, all animals were divided into two groups: control (n = 16) and infected group (n = 17). Biochemical analysis of tested parameters showed a significant elevation (P ≤ 0.001) of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatine kinase (CK), creatinine (CREAT), and moderate increase (P ≤ 0.05) of serum total protein (TP) in infected cattle group comparing with the control group. No significant differences were observed for serum concentrations of albumin (ALB), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) between groups. The result of this study indicated that D. dendreticum infection in cattle could be associated with marked alterations in activity of hepatic enzymes and some biochemical parameters which could be used in early diagnosis of cattle dicrocoeliasis and to determine the effectiveness of anthelmintic therapy. © 2016, Springer-Verlag London.