%0 Journal Article
%T Biochemical Liver Functions and Molecular Identification of <i>Fasciola</i> <i>hepatica</i> from Experimentally Infected Rat Model
%A Omnia M. Kandil
%A Emad B. Ata
%A Margarita P. Gabrashanska
%A Hatem A. Shalaby
%A Tamer H. Abd El-Aziz
%A Noha M. F. Hassan
%A Soad M. Nasr
%A Mohamed A. Helal
%A Ebtesam M. Al-Olayan
%J Open Journal of Animal Sciences
%P 88-100
%@ 2161-7627
%D 2024
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/ojas.2024.142007
%X The current study was performed to evaluate the liver function status as well as molecular characterization of the recovered worms in rats experimentally infected with <i>F.</i> <i>hepatica</i>. Sixteen male Wister rats aged 30 days were randomly allocated into two groups (<i>n</i> = <i>8</i>). The first group was infected orally with 15 viable encysted metacercaria of <i>F.</i> <i>hepatica</i> per animal. The other group was kept non-infected (control group). At zero time (before infection), the 2<sup>nd</sup>, 4<sup>th</sup>, 6<sup>th</sup>, 8<sup>th</sup>, 10<sup>th</sup>, 12<sup>th</sup> and 14<sup>th</sup> weeks post-infection (WPI), blood and serum samples were collected via puncture of retro-orbital plexus of veins from each rat. Serum enzyme level (AST and ALT) and total protein were measured, and the serum protein profile was carried out using agarose gel electrophoresis. During the period of the experiment, serum ALT and AST activities and serum total globulins significantly increased while serum total proteins and albumin markedly decreased in the infected group. On the 14<sup>th</sup> WPI, the data of the electropherogram showed that globulin fractions (<i>¦Á</i>1-, <i>¦Â</i>- and <i>¦Ã</i>-globulin) levels were significantly increased while <i>¦Á</i>2-globulin was markedly decreased in the infected group. The molecular analysis confirmed the amplification of the ITS1, ITS2 and NDI genes of <i>F.</i> <i>hepatica</i> recovered from the infected liver of rats with amplicon sizes of 630, 510 and 560 bp, respectively. Sequencing of the amplified ITS gene resulted in the determination of 3 strains (PP108836, PP108837, and PP108838). Also, analysis of the ITS2 gene resulted in obtaining 3 isolates under the accession numbers (PP109065, PP109066, and PP109067). In conclusion, fasciolosis in the rat model is suitable for routine experimental infections and caused a pronounced liver dysfunction with discharging of the Fasciola eggs in the faeces and the development of adult stages in the bile ducts. Furthermore, molecular techniques are a sensitive tool for the identification and characterisation of the <i>Fasciola</i> parasite.
%K &lt
%K i&gt
%K Fasciola&lt
%K /i&gt
%K &lt
%K i&gt
%K hepatica&lt
%K /i&gt
%K Liver Functions
%K Serum Enzymes
%K Serum Protein Electrophoresis
%K Molecular Characterization
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=132338