Animal Infectious Diseases

The altrations of mast cells and goblet cells in sheep livers associated
with Dicrocoelium dendriticum
Dr.Wasef AlWassouf*
(Received: 2 May 2023 , Accepted: 11 June 2023)
Abstract:
This research aims to study the changes of mast cells and goblet cells in the hepatic bile
ducts affected by Dicrocoelium dendriticum. Tissue samples were taken from 30 infected
livers of sheep, and fixed in neutral formalin 10%. Histological paraffin sections) were made
(4 micron thickness and stained with hematoxylin and eosin for general study, methyleneblue to detect mast cells and PAS regent to detect goblet cells.
A clear increase of mast cells account was observed in the surrounding connective tissue
of bile ducts, it was associated with acute cholangitis, accompanied by eosinophilic cells
infiltration predominantly during this stage, while no significant increase of mast cells account
was observed during chronic cholangitis.
Severe to moderate hyperplasia in goblet cells of bile ducts mucosa was reported during
the chronic inflammatory phase. Obvious fibrosis was found in the bile ducts wall,
accompanied with infiltration of lymphocytes, plasma cells, and macrophages.
It can be concluded that mast cells play an important role in early liver injury with
dicrocoeliasis. While hyperplasia in goblet cells was observed associated with an increase
in their secretory activity in the chronic inflammatory phase due to continuous irritation of
liver flukes for bile ducts the mucous.
Keywords: Dicrocoelium dendriticum, sheep liver, mast cells, goblet cells.

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