Changes in blood values of sheep suffering from acute and chronic helminthiasis.

Systematic blood changes in two groups of sheep, one suffering from acute and the other from chronic helminthiasis were studied. In the group with acute infection, there was a rapid increase in helminth egg output coupled with rapid decline in the values of packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb) and red blood cells (RBC). Fluctuations were observed in the value of white blood cells (WBC). In the group with chronic infection, a slow and unsteady increase in helminth egg output was accompanied by a slow and steady fall in the values of PCV, Hb and RBC. As with acute infection, the value of WBC was unsteady.