Haematological Indices in Trypanosoma Brucei Brucei (Federe Isolate) Infected Nigerian Donkeys (Equus Asinus) Treated with Homidium and Isometamidium Chloride

The efficacy of intramuscular administration of Homidium chloride (Novidium®) and Isometamidium chloride (Sécuridium®) in Nigerian donkeys (Equus asinus) experimentally infected with T. b. brucei (Federe isolate) was investigated. Changes in haematological and serum biochemical indices were evaluated using clinical haematology and biochemistry methods. Red blood cell (RBC) count for the negative control group was significantly higher than for the positive control, Novidium® and Sécuridium®-treatment groups. Haemoglobin (Hb) concentration significantly reduced in the infected untreated group compared with other groups. Packed cell volume (PCV) was significantly different between negative and positive controls, and also between the infected untreated and treatment groups. There was significant reduction in platelet counts post-infection and post-treatment. Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) increased significantly in the treatment groups while mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) significantly reduced only in the Sécuridium®-treatment group. Lymphocyte count for infected untreated was non-significantly higher than for the uninfected controls, but treatment with both trypanocides recorded further increases, which were higher compared with that of the uninfected group. Post infection and treatment, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels increased significantly. There were non-significant differences in electrolyte ion concentrations across the groups except for chloride ion which recorded a significant reduction in the Novidium®-treatment group. This experiment revealed that Nigerian donkeys infected with T. brucei brucei (Federe isolate) developed symptoms of trypanosomosis; anaemia, lymphocytosis and thrombocytopenia. Treatment with the trypanocides ameliorated effects of the infection, and results suggest that immunosuppression may not be a substantial clinical manifestation of T. brucei brucei (Federe isolate) trypanosomosis in Nigerian donkeys.