100 Veterinary Practitioner Vol. 22 No.1 June 2021 DETECTION OF ANAEMIA CAUSED BY PARASITIC INFECTIONS AND ESTIMATION OF HAEMATOLOGICAL VARIABLES AND BLOOD PICTURE IN SHEEP Sura Saad Abdulazeez, Hiba Hazim Salih 1 , Wasan Sarhan Oubied 2* , Nawar Ali Jassim 2 and Khalid Ahmed Hadi 3 College of Nursing, Tikrit University, Iraq ABSTRACT This study was conducted to detect anemia caused by parasitic infection, by ways of determining changes in some blood values, and blood picture to evaluate the histological change. Blood samples were collected from Awassi sheep (150 animals as anaemic group and 75 as control group), in Salahudeen city. The samples were collected with ages varying from (1-5 years). The results showed a significant reduce in (PCV, (Hb), MCV, MCH, and MCHC). The results of the current study showed the presence of parasites of the following types Babesia, Thileria, Anaplasma, which caused anaemia of sheep’s. Key words: Anaemia, parasitic infection, Awassi sheep, blood parasite, Hb 1 College of Pharmacy, Tikrit University; 2 College of Veterinary Medicine, Tikrit University; *Corresponding author email: dr.wasansarha.ph@gmail.com Introduction Sheep are economically important animals because their nutritional and administrative requirements are inexpensive, as well as the diversity of their products and ways to benefit from them by humans, as selection in farm animals depends on the formal characteristics of any quantitative characteristic measured on the animal is a function of its phenotypic value, as the phenotypic value Hereditary factors and the extent to which they are affected by non-genetic factors and the interaction between them (Falconer and Mackay, 1996). The area between the River Tigris and the Euphrates is considered the original home of the Awassi sheep, and it is one of the most important sheep veins in the Middle East. It is spread in Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, northern Saudi Arabia, Iraq and southern Turkey (Talal, 2011). Also, Awassi sheep distinctive of their ability of meat and milk production, so its play economic role among Livestock (Bakunzi et al., 2013; Zvinorova et al., 2016). Anaemia is a condition that occurs because the haemoglobin concentration is lower than the normal level. Because of the low haemoglobin level, the body’s systems suffer from not getting enough oxygen. Consequently, patients complain of signs and symptoms such as fatigue, headache, lack of focus, lethargy, and others (Ježek et al., 2009), There are three main types of anaemia: anaemia due to blood loss (haemorrhagic), anaemia due to abnormal production of red blood cells, and hemolytic anaemia. Anaemia is the most common haematology condition. In the United States, this disease affects more than three and a half million Americans. Women and people with chronic diseases may be at increased risk of developing anaemia (Matsuda, 2010). Anaemia is also characterized by a decrease in the amount of erythrocytes, often accompanied by a decrease in haemoglobin levels or a change in erythrocytes morphology. Anaemia is a diverse and often multifactorial disease (Kassebaum et al., 2014) resulting from complete loss, deficiency or malabsorption of a number of elements and vitamins such as vitamin B12, iron, zinc and cobalt (trace elements) (Rizk et al., 2017). Materials and Methods Study design and Animals Animals were divided to anaemic group included (150 sheep’s) and control group included (75 healthy sheep’s), the anaemic animals diagnosed by clinical symptoms that “anorexia, pale mucus membranes and poor coat”. Sampling The samples of blood were collected, to estimation the blood test, haematological variables were observed (HB, PCV, MCV, MCH, and MCHC) and blood smears were preparation to detect blood parasites. Blood samples were obtained from the jugular vein using methyl alcohol 70%, for sterilization, 10 ml of blood was taken, 2.5 ml placed in EDTA tubes for haematological tests and blood smear. Results and Discussion Parasites and abnormal forms of red blood cells: The results of the current study showed the presence of parasites of the following types Babesia, Theileria and Anaplasma (Barcellini and Fattizzo, 2017; Al-Ammari, 2008; Razmi et al ., 2006). The incidence of Babesia was 25%, which is consistent with the findings of (Giadinis et al., 2011) and (Duzgun et al., 1991) and the rate of infection with Anaplasma recorded was 20%, which is in line with (Mohammed and Salman, 2016) and contrary to what was mentioned (Al- Rubaii, 2008). The Table 1: The ratio % of single and double parasitic infection Infection parasite Single infection % Infection parasite Double infection % Theilaria 27% Theilaria+ Babesia 6% Babesia 25 % Theilaria+Anaplasma 6.4 % Anaplasma 20 % Babesia+ Anaplasma 3.2 % Received on: 05.03.2021 Accepted on: 17.05.2021