Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of diminazene diaceturate (Sequzene®) on serum biochemistry and associated histopathological changes of New-Zealand white rabbits experimentally infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei. A total of thirty New-Zealand white rabbits weighing between 0.1 and 0.7 kg of both sexes were divided into six groups A to F of five rabbits each. Group A was infected with T. brucei brucei only but untreated while Group B was uninfected untreated control. Group C was infected with T. brucei brucei but treated with Sequzene® at 3.5 mg/kg, while Group D was infected with T. brucei brucei and treated with Sequzene® at 7.0 mg/kg. Group E was uninfected but treated with Sequzene® at 3.5 mg/kg while group F was uninfected and treated with 7.0 mg/kg of Sequzene®. Physical signs were monitored daily and blood samples were taken every 7 days and analyzed for serum biochemical and associated histopathological changes according to standard laboratory techniques. Physical signs manifested were dullness, weakness, anorexia, weight loss, increased respiration, starry hairs with corneal opacity. Rabbits in infected untreated group (A) showed nervous disorder (convulsion) at the point of death. There were significant (p<0.05) elevations of serum aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALKP), serum urea and creatinine levels and a significant decline (p<0.05) in serum glucose concentration. The mean values for groups B, E and F remained fairly constant (p>0.05) throughout the study. The mean values of parameters evaluated in treated groups (C and D) were completely restored to their pre-infection values by day 21 post infection. Histopathological changes include thickened interstitium infiltrated by leucocytes and an inflamed bronchiole in the lungs, degenerative and necrotic renal tubules in the renal interstitium in the kidney, degenerative hepatocytes in the liver and congested blood vessels and neuronal cells in the brain. It is therefore recommended that diminazene diaceturate be used for effective treatment of T. brucei brucei in animals suffering from trypanosomosis.

Key words: Serum biochemistry, diminazene diaceturate