Pharmacological Studies on Trypanosoma evansi Infected Goats

Abstract

Combined action of Cymelarsan® and/or Oxytetracycline (OTC) in goats experimentally infected with T. evansi was investigated. The experiment was done on 25 Nubian goats divided into five groups as follows Group (A) was infected, untreated control, Group (0) was infected, treated with OTC, Group (R) was infected, treated with Cymelarsan®, Group (Z) was infected, treated with Cymelarsan® and OTC and Group (C) was uninfected, untreated control. CymelarsanR and Cymelarsan® OTC combination cleared the parasites from peripheral blood. OTC alone delayed death compared with the untreated control group. Body temperature, live weight and haematological values (RBC, PCV and Hb) changed after infection and returned to normal post-treatment except in group (0) that was treated with OTC. Blood indices were differently affected in different groups. MCHC level increased after infection but levels declined after treatment, while MCH level increased in groups (R) and (Z), declined in group (0) and remained constant in group (A). WBC slightly increased post-infection and treatment and then became stable. Basophils and eosinophils disappeared post infection, while monocytes appeared on day 7 post-infection. Lymphocytes decreased post-infection and increased post-treatment. In group (C) (the control group) lymphocytes increased after injection with combination. Neutrophils increased post-infection and decreased post-treatment. It decreased in group (C) after injection with the combination. Total protein and globulin levels increased post-infection and decreased post-treatment. Group (0) showed a stable condition after injection with combination. Groups (R) and (Z) became normal at the end, while albumin slightly increased post-infection. Alkline phosphatase increased post-infection and decreased post-treatment. Group (R) and group (Z) became normal at the end and group (0) remained as it was post-treatment. Group (C) showed an increase in ALP level after injection with combination. Creatinine level decreased post-infection and increased post-treatment, group (Z) became normal at the end and group (0) remained as it was post-treatment. Sodium level didn't change post-infection and increased post-treatment. Group (C) increased after injection with combination and group (0) remained as it was post-treatment. Potassium level showed a decrease post-infection and increase post-treatment and group (0) remained at the same level post-treatment. Calcium level declined post-infection. Group (A) showed an increase post-treatment, while group (0) remained normal. The control (group C) showed an increase after injection with combination and group (Z) showed a higher increase post- treatment. Inorganic phosphorus showed reduction post-infection and increased post-treatment in all groups. Ketone bodies test showed positive result post- infection and negative one post-treatment. In all infected groups, emaciation, loss of appetite, anaemic mucous membranes, loss of body condition, lacrimation, keratitis, shivering, pyrexia, weakness, diarrhoea, weak respiratory and pulse rates were the clinical signs during the infection period on day 4 to day 11. Infected animals in group (A) showed muscle spasm and neck back position. Group (0) showed severe diarrhoea, nasal discharge and loss of hair. Post mortem change showed enlargement of spleen, liver, kidney, oedema in lungs and lymph nodes. Emaciation of the serous atrophy of fat, hydropericardium, multifocal encephalitis and pseudocyts in the cortex of cerebral, cerebellum were observed in animal numbers 12, 14, 22, 23, 25 (group (0) and(A). In histopathological examinations, all organs examined including lungs, brains, hearts, thyroid glands, kidneys and spleens, there were congestion, thickening, tubular dilatations, haemosiderosis and fibrosis.