Influence of Diaminazene Aceturate (Berenil®) on the Haematology of Yankasa Sheep Experimentally Infected with Trypanosoma evansi

Abstract

Haematological profiles were determined in Yankasa sheep experimentally infected with Trypanosoma evansi (T. evansi) and treated with diaminazene aceturate (berenil®).  A total of 30 animals were divided into 6 groups (A to F) (n=5). Animals from each group were either uninfected or infected with T. evansi, and treated with Berenil®. Infection of the infected groups (A, C and E) was done via intravenous inoculation of T. evansi, while the infected group C and E were treated with berenil® at 3.5 and 7 mg/kg BW, respectively, by day 16 post infection (PI). The infected groups had pre-patent period of 8 days, with similar levels of parasitaemia (4.7 ± 0.27). In group A, the mean parasite count rose significantly (P < 0.05) to 72.8 ± 1.07 by day 12 PI and continue to a peak value of 250.6 ± 1.98 by day 28 PI. In group C and E, the initial parasitaemia rose significantly (P < 0.05) to 80.8 ± 1.12 and 78.2 ± 1.11 by day 12 PI, following treatment with 3.5 and 7.0 mg/kg BW of berenil®, by day 20 PI, respectively, and was completely eliminated by day 9 and 5 post treatment (PT), respectively. As parasitaemia increased, PCV, RBC, Hb, WBC, platelets count, absolute lymphocytes and monocytes, significantly declined (P<0.05) in group A, leading to anaemia at day 16 PT. It is therefore, demonstrated that both the two doses of berenil® were effective in the treatment of the disease under experimental conditions but 7.0 mg/kg cleared the parasitaemia faster.