Pigment metabolism. II. Determinations of bilirubin and carotinoids in the plasma and of coproporphyrin in the urine and faeces of cattle experimentally infected with Theileria parva

Abstract

The investigations on Theileria parva infection of cattle revealed : (1) That bilirubinaemia did occur, the highest figure for plasma bilirubin being 12 v. d. Bergh units. (2) That the yellow staining of the fat is due to the combined effect of carotinoids and bilirubin. (3) That the intensity of the yellow colour of the plasma is in part due to carotinoids, a normal constituent of the blood of cattle, especially if they be fed on food containing carotinoids. (4) That there is a definite rise in the concentration of coproporphyrin in the faeces and urine. Such a rise, however, does not necessarily mean that there is an increase in the total amount excreted as the rise may be due to the decrease in the amount of faeces passed as a result of the disease.