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Effect of trypanosoma congolense and Trypanosoma brucei mixed infection on the pattern of haematological changes in murine trypanosmosis

JN Abenga, SA Sands, OGC Ezebuiro

 

Abstract

The effect of Trypanosoma congolense and T. brucei mixed infection on the pattern of haematological changes was demonstrated in a rat model. At the end of 21 days post infection (PI), anaemia which was characterised by drop in the packed cell volume (PCV), was found to be significantly (P<0.05) severer in rats with mixed infection than those infected with T. congolense or T. brucei. Similar pattern of drop in the total white blood cell (WBC), differential WBC, and platelet counts was observed in the group with mixed infection. It was concluded that even though T. congolense and T. brucei may cause milder haematological changes in animals compared to T. vivax, mixed infection by these parasites may cause severer haematological changes in the natural hosts.

Keywords: mixed infections, pattern of haematological changes, rats, Trypanosoma congolense, Trypanosoma brucei

African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology Vol. 6 (3) 2005: 193-197

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Observations on the tolerance of young dogs (puppies) to infection with Trypanosoma congolense

JN Abenga, K David, COG Ezebuiro, FAG Lawani

 

Abstract

Studies were undertaken to assess the susceptibility of young local dogs to infection with Trypanosoma congolensei. Six puppies (7 weeks old) were used for the study. Although the puppies became parasitaemic 6 to 7 days post infection, they were tolerant to infection as the parasitaemia remained low through out the first seven weeks of the eight week observation period. The packed cell volume (PCV) also only dropped slightly during the last four weeks attaining the value of 25.6 + 3.8 (p>0.05) by the eighth week while the mean body weight continued to increase. Similarly, the mean daily body temperature did not differ significantly from those of un-infected control. The significance of trypanotolerance in Nigerian local dogs is discussed.

Key Words: local puppies, low parasitaemia, packed cell volume, Trypanosoma congolense, trypanotolerance, Nigerian

Afr. J. Clin. Exper. Microbiol. Vol.6(1) 2005: 28-33