Biochemical Response of Red Sokoto Bucks Experimentally Infected with Trypanosoma congolense and Trypanosoma brucei Treatment and Relapse

Abstract

Biochemical responses of Red Sokoto bucks experimentally infected with Trypanosomes were studied. Twenty four bucks were divided into 4 groups of 6 animals each (I, II, III, and IV). Group 1 served as the uninfected control group, Group II and III were inoculated with 2 ml of 1 x106 Trypanosoma brucei and T. congolense respectively while Group IV were inoculated with 2 ml of 1x106 parasites each of T. congolense and T. brucei. The bucks in all the infected groups were treated on day 14 post patency with Isometamidium Chloride (2%) at the dose rate of 0.5 mg/kg IM. Serum enzymes (Aspartate amino transferase, Alanine amino transferase, Alanine amino phosphate) were all elevated. Urea and potassium levels were increased, while the levels of Na+, Cl- and HCO3 were decreased. The elevated biochemical parameters were more pronounced during the infection and relapse phases in the entire infected group. This study concludes that during trypanosome infection phases, serum enzyme; urea and potassium were elevated while Na+, Cl- and HCO3 ions were decreased.