The objective of the present study was to describe the influence of supplementation with selenium and vitamin E on the protein and oxidative profiles of lambs experimentally infected with Haemonchus contortus. Thirty female lambs were divided into four groups as follows: G1 (n=10): infected animals; G2 (n=10): infected and supplemented; G3 (n=5): control; G4 (n=5): non-infected and supplemented. Groups 1 and 2 received 500 H. contortus larvae (L3) orally for a period of 20 days, with 2-day intervals between doses. Supplementation in groups 2 and 4 was performed on day zero by injecting 0.1mg kg-1 of sodium selenite solution (1.67%) and 2,000IU vitamin E through the intramuscular (IM) route. Vitamin E alone was injected once again on day thirty. The blood samples to determine the protein profile (total protein, albumin, alpha, beta and gamma) and oxidative metabolism (species reactive to thiobarbituric acid and glutathione peroxidase (GSPX) were performed on days zero, 20, 30, 45, 60 and 80. The OPG was quantified on days 0, 20, 45 and 80. Regarding the values of total proteins, albumin, beta and gamma globulins, the main differences were observed when the parasitized groups were compared to the supplemented, non-infected group, the latter exhibiting higher values. It is concluded that there is no influence of supplementation with vitamin E and selenium in the protein profile and oxidative metabolism when the lambs are severely parasitized with H. contortus.
sheep; Haemonchus contortus; protein profile; metabolism oxidative
