Fasciolosis: Analytical approaches to post-treatment liver enzyme activity changes in cattle

The study investigated the applicability of three different analytical approaches for assessing post-treatment changes in liver enzyme activity following anthelmintic therapy over a 21-day period in cattle naturally infected with fasciolosis. A total of 48 animals were allocated into four groups of 12 cows each: one untreated control group and three treatment groups. Treated cattle received the following anthelmintic combinations: ivermectin plus clorsulon (IVM+CLOR), levamisole plus oxyclozanide (LEV+OXY), and albendazole (ABZ). Biochemical assessments were performed using standardized kinetic and colorimetric methods in accordance with the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) guidelines. Pre- and post-treatment changes in hepatic enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase - AST, alanine aminotransferase - ALT) and cholestatic enzymes (alkaline phosphatase - ALP, gamma-glutamyl transferase - GGT) were evaluated. The analyses demonstrated comparable applicability and reliability of quantifying post-treatment enzyme changes when referenced either to pre-treatment or to the control group at the group level, rather than at the individual level. Among the enzymes assessed, all three analytical approaches showed agreeing results of significantly decreased GGT activity by 3.8 - 32.4 % and 21.6 - 47.5 % across treatment groups on Day 7 and 21, respectively, following flukicide administration. These findings underscore the importance of quantifying liver enzyme changes and highlight the relevance of GGT post-treatment alterations. The observed associations between flukicide therapy and biochemical liver profiles may provide a foundation for future studies aimed at elucidating the impact of treatment on clinic-biochemical patterns and the potential for liver recovery following the resolution of chronic fasciolosis in naturally infected cattle.