Hematological Parameters of Clinically Healthy Indigenous Greek Goats ( Capra prisca ) and Their Associations with Parasitological Findings, Age and Reproductive Stage

Konstantinos V. Arsenopoulos (), Eleni Michalopoulou, Eleftherios Triantafyllou, George C. Fthenakis and Elias Papadopoulos
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Konstantinos V. Arsenopoulos: Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nicosia, Nicosia 2414, Cyprus
Eleni Michalopoulou: Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
Eleftherios Triantafyllou: Vet Analyseis, Veterinary Microbiological Laboratory, 41222 Larissa, Greece
George C. Fthenakis: Veterinary Faculty, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece
Elias Papadopoulos: Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 13, 1-26

Abstract: Objectives: The present study aimed to determine the reference intervals for complete blood count and total protein parameters in Greek indigenous Capra prisca goats and to evaluate their associations with parasitic burden, age and reproductive stage. Methods: Two-hundred clinically health goats were grouped by parasite status (gastrointestinal nematodes, Eimeria spp., and lungworm infection), age (3–6-month-old growing kids; lactating non-pregnant goats ≤ 3 or >3 years old) and reproductive stage (non-lactating pregnant goats; lactating non-pregnant goats). Blood samples were analyzed for erythrogram, leukogram and megakaryocytic parameters using an automated analyzer and manual blood smears. Total plasma proteins were measured using refractometry. Results: Gastrointestinal nematode-infected animals (>300 eggs per gram of feces) were associated with a significant reduction in red blood cell counts and hematocrit estimation, and an increase in mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrations, while lungworm-infected animals were associated with decreased red blood cells, red cell distribution width and neutrophils, and increased lymphocytes compared to non-infected animals. Eimeria spp. affected only basophils in growing kids. Age influenced all erythrocytic and leukocytic parameters (apart from neutrophils and monocytes), as well as all megakaryocytic parameters and total proteins, with younger animals showing higher red and white blood cell counts and platelets compared to adults. Pregnant does had elevated hemoglobin, hematocrit, neutrophils and monocytes compared with lactating non-pregnant does. Conclusions: The calculated 95% reference intervals for our demographic groups of animals provide a useful diagnostic framework for assessing Capra prisca health in Greek goat farming.

Keywords: complete blood count; goats; Capra prisca; parasitological burden; age; reproductive stage; reference intervals (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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