DefinePK

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the haematological, selected serum biochemicals and electrolytes parameters of donkeys experimentally infected with Trypanosoma evansi as well as determine the effects of isometamidium chloride and buparvaquone treatments. Twenty four healthy donkeys, about 11 to 15 months old participated in the experiment. Six animals were assigned to each of groups A1 (Infected-untreated), A2 (Infected, isometamidium-treated), A3 (Infected, buparvaquone-treated) and B (Un-infected-untreated; control) at random. Two (2) ml inoculum (2.0×106 Trypanosoma evansi parasites) was used to infect each animal in groups A1, A2 and A3 through jugular vein. Groups A2 and A3 animals were treated on day 28 post-infection with isometamidium chloride (1%) using 0.5mgKg-1 I.M. once and buparvaquone (5%) using 2.5mgKg-1 I.M. twice at 72 hours apart. Mean parasitaemia counts were evaluated post-infection and post-treatment while haematological, serum biochemical and electrolytes parametres were evaluated pre-infection, post-infection and post-treatment. Data was analysed using Analysis of Variance at 95% confidence level (P<0.05 = statistically significant). Means of parasitaemia counts and blood/serum parameters are presented on graphs and tables respectively. From the result, groups A1 donkeys had declined mean serum total Protein, Albumin, Calcium ion and bicarbonate ion levels but increased Alkaline phosphatase activity. Group A2 showed elevations in Albumin and bicarbonate ion, and declines in Alkaline phosphatase, Creatinine and blood urea nitrogen to pre-infection levels. Also, increases in Phosphate ion, and Potassium ion were observed following treatment. The group A3 did not show reversal of elevations in the levels of Alkaline phosphatase and blood urea nitrogen activities to pre-infection levels. In conclusion, the changes in donkeys experimentally infected with Trypanosoma evansi were haematological (anaemia and lymphocytopenia), serum biochemical (hypoproteinaemia, hypoalbuminaemia, Alkaline phosphatase and Blood urea nitrogen activities) and serum electrolyte (hypocalcaemia and decreased bicarbonate ion level). Isometamidium chloride treatment restored the levels of Albumin, bicarbonate ion, Alkaline phosphatase, Creatinine and Blood urea nitrogen to pre-infection (normal) levels with accompanying hyperphosphatemia and hyperkalaemia. Treatment with buparvaquone did not restore altered serum parameters to pre-infection levels.