TRYPANOSOMA VIVAX IN NIGERIAN GOATS: EFFECT OF CHEMOTHERAPY OF SERUM CONSTITUENTS OF RED SOKOTO BUCKS

Abstract

The effect of trypanosome infection on serum protein and electrolyte levels was studied in Red Sokoto goats inoculated with Trypanosoma vivax and treated, during the course of the infection, with Berenil (diminazene aceturate), Samorin (isometamidium chloride) and Novidiurh (homidium chloride). During the infection total protein, albumin and albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio decreased significantly (P<0.05) while the globulin fraction and calcium increased progressively. Chloride concentration was elevated by the third week post infection and, despite treat met, by the sixth week. Untreated animals died within five to six weeks of patent infection showing terminal hypoproteinemia of 23.6% Treatment abolished trypanosomaemia within 48 hours and reversed the effect of the infection by the second or third week post drug administration. There were slight but insignificant differences in the levels of the parameters monitored in the different drug-treated groups However, four weeks post treatment pre infection levels of total protein and albumin, were not achieved by Berenil nor was therapy associated with modulation of the calcium and chloride concentrations to pre infection levels