Changes in lipids utilisation during moisture and temperature stress of infective (L3) and its implication on the epidemiology of Haemonchus contortus in arid and semi arid lands

Abstract

A study was undertaken to establish the pattern and level of lipid utilization in third stage infective larvae (L_3) of Haemonchus contortus under temperature and moisture stress conditions. The stress factors were representative of an arid and semi arid site in Kenya. The L_3 were subjected to gradual increase and reduction in temperature and moisture, respectively, using a programmable cold/heat testing chamber. Optical density per area (Corrected average pixels) derived from image analysis of individual stained larvae using an image analysis software (UN SCAN IT gel^(r)), were used to estimate the lipid content of larvae subjected to different stress treatments. It was observed that lipid content of the L_3 declined and was negatively correlated with duration of exposure with significantly (p = 0.012) lower rates in moisture compared to temperature stressed L3. It was also observed that the decline occurred in phases signifying possible adaptive physiological process aimed at preserving lipid reserves and viability. During revival, there was a drastic decline in lipid reserves probably as a result of increased lipid utilisation by the reviving larvae. The epidemiological significance of these findings in field larvae is discussed