Abstract

A major feature of infection with trypanosomes is the development of anaemia. In this study, the effect of Scoparia dulcis (Atiotiousha in Akoko-Edo) onTrypanosoma brucei induced anaemia was investigated in fifteen rabbits divided into three groups of n = 5 over a period of twenty eight days. Changes in Packed cell volume (PCV), Haemoglobin (Hb) concentration, Red blood cell count (RBC), Mean cell haemoglobin (MCH), Mean cell haemoglobin concentration, (MCHC) and Mean cell volume (MCV) were monitored over the period. The results obtained indicate that infection with T. brucei results in a significant decrease (p<0.05) in PCV, Hb concentration and RBC. No significant (p>0.05) changes were observed in MCH, MCHC and MCV. However the severity of observed anaemia was significantly less pronounced (p<0.05) in the infected rabbits that were treated withS. dulcis when compared with their infected but untreated counterparts. It is concluded that S. dulcis therapy may prove useful in the management of T. bruceianaemia, and possibly other forms of anaemia, although the precise mechanism by which the preparation enhances the haematological indices investigated remains to be fully understood.

Key words:  Scoparia dulcis, Trypanosoma brucei, Rabbits, PCV, Haemoglobin.