Egypt. J. Vet. Sci. Vol. 54, No. 4, pp. 571-577 (2023)
P
REGNANT animals need high energy to maintain pregnancy and embryo development.
Animals supplemented with low energy diets are predisposed to infammatory processes,
immune system dysfunction, and maternal metabolic issues during pregnancy. This research
work aimed to declare the changes in hemato-biochemical parameters in pregnant Rembi sheep.
Thirty healthy Rembi ewes were synchronized in October 2020 for the current study. Beginning
in the frst month of pregnancy, blood was taken monthly from the jugular vein. Our results
showed that plasma glucose (GLU), urea, and globulin(Glob) decreases were highly signifcant
(P<0.05) during the last two months of pregnancy. Conversely, the values of triglyceride (TG),
Albumin (Alb), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), and Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)
recorded a highly signifcant increase at the end of the pregnancy. Furthermore, serum levels
of Calcium (Ca) and Phosphorus (P) recorded a highly signifcant (P<0.05) decrease during the
last month of gestation. Total protein (TP) and Gammaglutamyl Transferase (GGT) showed
signifcant (P<0.05) decreases during the frst gestational month. Regarding the hematological
parameters, especially erythrogram, in the last month of gestation, ewes present macrocytic
hypochromic anemia with a highly signifcant (P<0.05) decrease in the values of red blood cells
(RBC) and hemoglobin (HBC). White blood cells (WBC) were found to be signifcantly higher
(P< 0.05) in the fnal month of pregnancy compared to the frst. Blood parameters may change
during pregnancy, and that can refect the health of the ewes.
Keywords: Ewe, Biochemical Parameters, Hematological Parameters, Pregnancy, Rembi.
52
Hematological and Biochemical Blood Parameters During
Pregnancy in Algerian Rembi Ewes
Chikhaoui Mira
1,2
, Hariche Zahira
1
, Aiche Souad
1
, Smail Fadhéla
1,2
and Berrani
Abdelkader
3
1
Department of Animal Health, Veterinary Institute, University of Tiaret, Algeria.
2
Laboratory of Research on Local Animal Products, Tiaret University, Tiaret, Algeria.
3
Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, University of Tiaret, Algeria.
Egyptian Journal of Veterinary Sciences
https://ejvs.journals.ekb.eg/
Corresponding author: Mira Chikhaoui, , E- mail: zaoiraomar@yahoo.fr, Tel.: (213) 776568734
(Received 04/01/2023, accepted 03/04/2023)
DOI: 10.21608/EJVS.2023.185405.1422
©2023 National Information and Documentation Center (NIDOC)
Introduction
In Algeria, sheep represent the highest domestic
animal population. They are important to the
country’s economy, particularly in meeting
population needs such as meat and wool [1]. In
2017, the Algerian steppes had an important
growth in livestock numbers, which increased up
to 28 million ovine heads [2]. The classifcation of
the Algerian sheep population based on mapped
breeding zones in the study of Djaout et al. [3]
showed that 12 ovine breeds are phenotypically
characterized.
Rembi sheep is an important breed in livestock
farming in Algeria; it is well adapted to extreme
cold and mountain conditions and is known by
its cold and drought resistance [4]. This breed is
predominant in the regions of Ouarsenis and the
highlands of Tiaret, west Algeria [3].
Several studies have shown great variation
in the hematological parameters during the
different pregnancy stages in small ruminants [5,
6]. According to Plaza Cuadrado et al. [7], blood
biochemical parameters are important indicators of
metabolic activity in ewes. As per the stages of life,