Effects of Experimental Trypanosoma Brucei And T.Congolense Infection And Treatment With Diminazen Aceturate on Renal Function in Dogs

ABSTRACT

This work was designed to study the effects of Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma congolense infection on the renal function of mongrel dogs. Also, the effects of treatment of the infection with diaminazene aceturate were evaluated. Sixteen (16) male mongrel dogs aged between 3 and 6 months, and weighing between 2.5 and 5.2 kg were used for the study. The dogs were acquired, numbered, tagged and weighed. The dogs were kept in clean metal cages in a fly proof house and were fed once daily with either rice and beans , or garri with soup and water given ad libitum. The 16 dogs were randomly assigned with a bias for even weight distribution into four groups (A-D). Groups A and B had five dogs each, while groups C and D had three dogs each. The five dogs in group A were infected with Trypanosoma brucei while the five dogs in group B were infected with T. congolense. On establishment of parasitaemia, all the dogs were treated with 7mg/kg of diminazene aceturate. Groups C and D dogs were uninfected. Group C was treated with 7mg/kg of diminazene aceturate whereas the three dogs in groups D were untreated. Parameters monitored were prepatent period, parasitaemia, body weight, rectal temperature, packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin concentration and total white blood cell counts (TWBC). Urinalysis and serum biochemical analysis were equally performed. The results of the study showed that parasitaemia occurred in the T. brucei infected dogs (group A), 4-6 days post infection (PI) while it occurred in the T. congolense infected dogs (group B) 7-10days post infection (PI). Following treatment with diminazene aceturate, parasites cleared from the T. brucei and T. congolense infected dogs within (3) days. No relapse of infection was recorded following clearance of the parasites. Trypanosoma brucei infected group had 20 % mortality while T. congolense infected group had 80 % mortality. The T. congolense infected dogs before they died manifested some forms of aggression like biting the metallic rods that xii were used in constructing the house suggesting cerebral involvement. However the T. brucei group was apparently healthy and did not manifest any change in behaviour as observed in the T. congolense. Trypanosomosis caused significant (p