CORRELAÇÃO ENTRE pH ABOMASAL E PRESENÇA DE Haemonchus contortus EM OVINOS NATURALMENTE PARASITADOS

The presence of Haemonchus contortus and other gastrointestinal helminths in the abomasum could change the local acidity necessary for the proper operation of catalytic enzymes that have extremely low optimum pH. Our aim was to analyze the abomasal fluid of sheep and to compare the intensity of parasitism with abomasum physical-chemical characteristics. Analysis were made after the regular slaughter and parasite load was determined by the collection of adult and immature worms in the abomasal content. The results showed associations between higher pH values abomasal  and greater parasitic load. Increasing the abomasal pH may facilitate the persistence of the parasite and, therefore, maintaining the acidity of the abomasal liquid may be a strategy against anthelmintic resistance to avoid further losses in production.