Comparative Haematological Changes in West African Dwarf Goats Experimentally Infected with Trypanosoma vivax and Trypanosoma brucei: Changes Caused by Treatment with DiminazeneAceturate (Diminaze®)

12 Abstract: A comparative study of haematological changes in West African Dwarf bucks experimentally infected with Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma vivax and changes caused after treatment with (Diminaze®) was carried out using twenty three (23) bucks for a period of 18 weeks. Eight bucks were infected with T. brucei, another eight with T. vivax and seven kept as control. They were divided into three groups and housed in separate fly proof pens. All animals were fed commercial concentrate at 12-14% crude protein, fresh grasses, water and salt licksad-libitum. Data on parasitaemia, rectal temperature, weight and haematological investigations were determined before infection, during infection and after treatment. T. bruceiinfected bucks developed chronic trypanosomiasis while T. vivax infected bucks developed an acute phase of trypanosomiasis. Clinical disease was characterised by intermittent pyrexia, slight drop in body condition and irregular parasitaemia and these was more severe in the T. vivax infected bucks.There was a significant difference (P 0.05) in MCHC post infection (PI) in all infected bucks when compared with the control bucks. However, treatment with (Diminaze®) led to a remarkable improvement with all parameters investigated. The results of this investigation showed that T. vivax was more pathogenic than T. brucei and caused more severe pyrexia, parasitaemia and anaemia (As indicated by a greater decline of PCV, Hb concentration and RBC counts). Treatment with Diminaze® improved blood components and restored cellular functions to the pre- infection state by reversing the negative effect of infecting trypanosomes.