Serum Biochemical Changes In West African Dwarf Buck Experimentally Infected With Trypanosoma Brucei And Trypaosoma Vivax.:- Onumaegbulem, Chinaemerem C

ABSTRACT

Serum biochemical changes in West African Dwarf bucks inoculated with trypanosome brucei and Trypanosoma vivax were investigated. The experimental set up consisted three groups; Groups 1 and 2 had 8 animals each and were infected with T.brucei and T. vivax while the third served as a control with 5 animals. There were three (3) stages in the experiment: Preinfection, Infection and Treatment phases. A wide range of variations and fluctuations were observed in the mean concentrations of the parameters assessed. The mean values for iron varied from 141.600±1.342 to 127.70011.017 (for T. brucei bucks), 141.7510.866 to 100.17122.333 (for T.vivax bucks) while the control experiment recorded mean range of 142.3310.577 to 111.7211.018. Concentration of protein, urea and potassium dropped steadily throughout the experimental phases. Sodium concentration for T. brucei bucks showed progressive decrease but for T.vivax, there was a decline than an increase after treatment (122.5010.289, 107.65123.900, 118.210.141). Statistical analysis of the means indicated that the presence ofthese parasites in the blood affected the normal range ofthe biochemical parameters. Serum concentrations were significantly higher in the infected animals than those of the control. This suggests that bucks require these elements and proteins to support their growth.