Original scientific paper

Comparative studies on erythrocyte calcium, potassium, haemoglobin concentration, osmotic resistance and sedimentation rates in grey duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia), sheep and goats experimentally infected with Trypanosoma congolense.

Ajibola Oluwole Ogunsanmi ; Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Management, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
Victor Olusegun Taiwo ; Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

A comparative study of the haemoglobin (Hb) concentration, erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESR), osmotic resistance (EOR) and erythrocyte dynamics of calcium (Ca++) and potassium (K+) ions was carried out on 10 grey duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia), 15 female West African dwarf sheep and 15 female Yankassa goats during the course of experimental Trypanosoma congolense infection. Grey duiker developed a transient parasitaemia and mild anaemia, while sheep and goats developed progressive parasitaemia, pyrexia, anaemia and loss of condition necessitating their treatment at 49 days post-infection to prevent imminent mortality. Grey duiker maintained consistently unchanged levels of Hb concentration, ESR and erythrocyte Ca++ levels, and transiently reduced EOR and erythrocyte K+ levels throughout the course of T. congolense infection. On the other hand, infected sheep and goats developed progressive decreases in Hb concentration, EOR and erythrocyte K+ levels, progressive increases in ESR and erythrocyte Ca++ levels. These changes were much more severe in infected goats and sheep. This study has shown that the relative trypanotolerance of infected grey duiker are based on their superior ability to control parasitaemia, maintain erythrocytic structural integrity and homeostasis, and hence limit anaemia and other deleterious effects of trypanosome infection than is the case with its domestic small ruminant counterparts. Thus, grey duiker may be a substitute for African buffalo in research efforts to unravel the mystery of trypanotolerance, especially in both wild and domesticated ruminants. These animals also offer valuable substitutes for animal protein sources for the teeming human population in tsetse and trypanosome endemic areas where their mass domestication and rearing is encouraged.

Keywords

erythrocyte biochemistry; grey duiker; sheep; goats; Trypanosoma congolense; Trypanotolerance

Hrčak ID:

67881

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/67881

Publication date:

21.6.2004.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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