Abstract

Biochemical evaluation of plasma during disease conditions gives an indication of the functional status of the various body organs. Biochemical analysis of plasma from 32 vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops) infected with Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense revealed at various stages of infection, dramatic increases in blood urea nitrogen, triglycerides, cholesterol and tissue enzymes including creatine kinase (CK), alkaline phosphatase (ALKP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Serum levels of total protein however showed a decline one week after infection but returned to control levels while creatinine increased then declined to control levels. The changes in total proteins, enzyme levels and albumin indicate severe tissue damage, metabolic abnormality and the development of liver and kidney malfunctions similar to those reported in sleeping sickness patients. This demonstrates that the vervet monkey is a good model to study various aspects of the disease. The changes in total proteins, albumin and triglycerides could also have important implications on the pathogenesis of African trypanosomosis and the effectiveness of treatment.

Key words: Trypanosomes, biochemical changes, monkey model.