Investigating Erythrocyte Membrane Lipid and Protein Oxidation With Na+ Activity in Caprine Anaplasmosis

Abstract

Anaplasmosis is an infectious disease that is caused by the genus Anaplasma belonging to the family Anaplasmataceae in the order Rickettsiales and is seen in the mammals inhabiting tropical and subtropical climate zones. Anaplasma ovis and A. phagocytophilum are the most remarkable species causing anaplasmosis in goats. Anaplasmosis induces both cellular and humoral immunity. As animals develop a long-term immunity against the disease, it becomes difficult to treat the disease. Immunity develops mainly depending on premunition. Increased osmotic fragility of erythrocytes in animals infected with anaplasmosis has been found, and it has been reported that this may be developed by various immune-mediated mechanisms including oxidative damage. Moreover, it may also be associated with high cell membrane ATPase activity and erythrocyte morphological changes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of anaplasmosis on erythrocyte membrane malondialdehyde (MDA), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), Sodium-potassium adenosine 5'-triphosphatase (Na+/K(+)ATPase), and hematological and biochemical parameters in goats. For this purpose, 45 male hair goats (35 infected and 10 healthy) that were brought to the slaughterhouse of Van Metropolitan Municipality were enrolled in the study. In infected goats, the hematological and biochemical concentrations of RBC, Hb, Hct, MCV, MCH, MCHC as well as serum total protein, albumin, total cholesterol and TIBC were found significantly lower, however concentrations of of WBC, globulin, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, triglyceride, and iron as well as enzyme activities of AST, ALT, GGT were found higher when compared to the healthy goats (p<0.05). In addition, the MDA and AOPP levels were markedly increased in erythrocyte membrane from infected animals while the Na+/K(+)ATPase enzyme activity was significantly decreased compared to the the healthy goats (p<0.05). Therefore, it can be concluded that oxidative stress in erythrocyte membrane may play an important role in the pathogenesis of anemia in caprine anaplasmosis.