The Comparative Effect of Experimental Trypanasomosis Infection and Pantizen Treatment on the Haematological Profile of Albino Rats
O. S. Chukwu
Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
C. O. Ukwueze *
Department of Veterinary Surgery and Theriogenology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Objectives: Experimental infections of Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma congolense in albino rats was done to compare their haematologic effects and then treated with Pantizen®, a brand of diminazene aceturate to ascertain its therapeutic effect on the heamatological value of the infected rats.
Methods: Six groups (groups A, B, C, D, E, and F) of six albino rats each were used for the study. Group A was uninfected control. Groups B and C were single infections of T. brucei and T. congolense respectively. Group D rats were infected with T. brucei and T. congolense the same day. Group E rats infected with T. brucei first and T. congolense 7 days after. While Group F rats were infected with T. congolense first and T. brucei 7 days after. The infected rats were treated on day 14 post infection and monitored for 7 days post treatment. Packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin concentration (Hb), Red Blood Cell (RBC) counts, total and differential White Blood Cell counts (WBC), were monitored weekly.
Results: There was significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the erythrocyte values (PCV, Hb and RBC counts) and leucocytes values, more in group D followed by groups B and E. This indicates aneamia and immunosupression respectively. However, there was no significant variation (P > 0.05) in the PCV, RBC counts and Hb conc, total leucocyte, lymphocyte, neutrophil and monocyte counts of the infected animals treated with Pantizen® especially in group E.
Conclusion: It was thus concluded that the therapeutic effect of Pantizen® treatment may reverse the depletion effect of both single and mixed infections on haemo-immune system of the animal taking into consideration the parameter measured.
Keywords: T. brucei and T. congolense, single and mixed infections, PCV, RBC, WBC, anaemia, Pantizen