Authors:
Int.
Abstract
Comparative plasma biochemical changes and the degree of erythrocyte susceptibility to in vitro peroxidation were studied in sheep experimentally infected with Trypanosoma congolense and T. brucei. Both groups of infected
sheep showed significant alterations (P<0.05; P<0.01) in the plasma biochemical parameters studied, while there was significantly increased (P<0.05) erythrocyte susceptibility to in vitro peroxidation using 1.5% hydrogen peroxide during the course of trypanosome infection. Plasma biochemical changes include elevation of total plasma protein and globulin levels with resultant decrease in albulin:globulin ratio, hypocholesterolaemia and hypoglycaemia in both groups of infected sheep. These changes were more severe (P<0.05) in T. brucei-infected than in T. congolense-infected sheep. While there were no significant changes in plasma alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in T. congolense-infected sheep, there were significant increases (P<0.05) in plasma levels of these enzymes in T. brucei-infected sheep. There was increased erythrocyte susceptibility to in vitro peroxidation in both groups of animals infected with the two species of trypanosomes, but it was more pronounced in T. brucei-infected sheep.
It is concluded that peroxidative injury to erythrocytes, which could have been due to loss of erythrocyte membrane integrity, and hypocholesterolaemia with resultant increased red cell destruction, is one of the major causes of anaemia during trypanosome infection in domestic animals. This study shows that sheep appear to be more susceptible to the pathogenic effects of T. brucei than of T. congolense.