Hematological and clinical studies in West African Dwarf sheep experimentally infected with Trypanosoma brucei and treated with diminazene aceturate, levamisole, and vitamin A

Abstract

The effects of diminazene aceturate (DA), levamisole, and/or vitamin A on hematological and clinical parameters of West African dwarf sheep experimentally infected with Trypanosoma brucei were studied. Twenty-four adult sheep were randomly assigned to 6 groups of 4 animals. They were infected with 1 × 106 trypanosomes intravenously (groups 2-6) or were uninfected (group 1). Treatment was administered 2 weeks post infection (PI) in all treated groups, except group 5, which was treated 3 weeks PI. Group 2 (positive control) received 7 mg/kg DA. Group 3 received 7 mg DA and 5 mg levamisole per kilogram of body weight. Group 4 received 7 mg/kg DA and 50,000 IU of vitamin A. Group 5 received 7 mg/kg DA and 50,000 IU of vitamin A. Group 6 received 7 mg/kg DA, 5 mg/kg levamisole, and 50,000 IU of vitamin A. Parameters monitored were parasitemia, respiratory and pulse rates, rectal temperature, body weight changes, packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, red blood cell counts, and clinical signs. Treatments were successful in all groups with no relapse recorded. Sheep in groups 6, 3, and 4 had significantly (P < 0.05) higher PCV and Hb than those treated with DA only or with DA and vitamin A at 3 weeks PI.