Abstract:
Studies to evaluate changes in blood clotting, blood calcium and protein, the haematocrit and white-cell
counts were undertaken in seven sheep with experimentally induced heartwater. A marked decline in
thrombocyte count was recorded during the acute stage of the disease. This was associated with increases
in both prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) ; fibrinogen increased
while there was no detectable increase in fibrinogen degradation products (FDP). At the same
time total serum protein (TSP) , albumin and globulin dropped very sharply; total calcium showed a progressive
drop but ionized calcium rose initially and was followed by a terminal decline. The total leucocyte
count showed a terminal increase while the haematocrit dropped progressively.
