Abstract

The effects of intraperitoneal administration of combinations of vitamins C and E (100mg/Kg b.w each) or vitamins A and E (10,000i.u/Kg, 100mg/Kg b. w., respectively)  on Trypanosoma brucei brucei  infection in rats were compared. The rats were infected intraperitoneally with the same parasite load and the experiment lasted for 17 days. The two vitamin combinations significantly (P<0.05) and persistently kept the parasitaemia lower than was recorded in the untreated infected rats. Terminal parasitaemia of the infected group given the vitamins A and E combination (AE) was significantly (P<0.05) lower than that of the group given the vitamins C and E combination (CE). Although all infected animals developed anaemia, its severity in the untreated infected animals was significantly (P<0.05) higher than observed in the two infected groups treated with the vitamin combinations; with the group given AE developing a significantly (P<0.05) less severe anaemia than those given CE. Trypanosoma brucei infection, without vitamin treatment caused general increases in serum alanine- and aspartate aminotransferases, urea and creatinine. Although CE had no significant effect on the infection levels of serum ALT and AST; AE significantly (P<0.05) prevented the disease-induced increases in these parameters. The two vitamin combinations prevented, to a significant degree, the disease-induced elevation of serum urea and creatinine; however, AE was more effective at this than CE. It was concluded that intraperitoneal administration of either vitamins C and E or vitamins A and E combinations alleviates the degenerative changes in tissues and organs associated with Trypanosoma brucei infection of rats; with the vitamins A and E combination being more effective.

Key words: Trypanosoma brucei brucei, antioxidant vitamins, anaemia, tissue damage.