Abstract

Lactose in normal saline was administered intravenously to a group of Zebu cattle infected with Trypanosoma vivax to determine the blood plasma kinetics at onset of an experimental infection and its ability to protect tissues against damage as part of preliminary studies to determine its suitability for use in the treatment of trypanosomosis. Significantly (P < 0.01) higher lactose concentrations were observed in the T. vivax-infected bulls at 30 min and 1 h (P < 0.05) post-infection (p.i.) and by 4 h p.i. the plasma lactose remained above the level prior to infusion, after which it fell slightly below the pre-infusion level in the uninfected group. Calculated pharmacokinetic parameters revealed delayed excretion of lactose in the T. vivax-infected group soon after infection. The total body clearance (Cl(B)) was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced. The biological half-life (t1/2), elimination rate constant (k(el)) and apparent volume of distribution (V(d)) were relatively decreased (P > 0.05) as a result of the T. vivax infection. Retention of lactose in the plasma was attributed to decreased plasma clearance. It is suggested that the presence of trypanosomes in circulation rather than organic lesions could have been responsible for the delay observed in the excretion of lactose. At 12 weeks p.i., when the experiment was terminated, the group infected and given lactose infusion (despite higher parasitaemia) had no gross or histopathological lesions in the brain, spleen, lymph nodes, heart, kidneys, liver and testes. However, the group infected but not infused with lactose were emaciated, had pale mucosae, watery blood, general muscular atrophy, serous atrophy of coronary fat and other adipose tissue, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, swollen and oedematous lymph nodes, all of which are suggestive of trypanosomosis. Histopathological lesions included narrowing of Bowman's space and hypercellularity of glomerular tufts in the kidneys with the mean glomerular tuft nuclear indices (GTNs) in the group significantly higher (P < 0.01) than the mean GTNs of the lactose-infused and control bulls. Degenerative changes occurred in the myocardium, spleen, testes and epididymides. The tesicular and epididymal lesions are indicative of male reproductive dysfunction.

Highlights

  • Trypanosomoses are important parasitic protozoal diseases of humans and animals that is prevalent throughout the tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world

  • (P < 0.01) higher lactose concentrations were observed in the T. vivax-infected bulls at 30 min and 1 h (P < 0.05) post-infection (p.i.) and by 4 h p.i. the plasma lactose remained above the level prior to infusion, after which it fell slightly below the preinfusion level in the uninfected group

  • In Africa, the form of the disease known as African animal trypanosomosis or nagana is an important constraint, if not the most important constraint, to livestock and mixed crop-livestock farming in tropical parts of the continent where its vector, Effects of lactose on experimental Trypanosoma vivax infection in Zebu cattle. 1 flies of the genus Glossina known as tsetse flies, occur (Kristjanson, Rowlands, Swallow, Kruska, De Leew & Nagda 1999)

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Summary

INTRODUCTION

Trypanosomoses are important parasitic protozoal diseases of humans and animals that is prevalent throughout the tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world. In Africa, the form of the disease known as African animal trypanosomosis or nagana is an important constraint, if not the most important constraint, to livestock and mixed crop-livestock farming in tropical parts of the continent where its vector, Effects of lactose on experimental Trypanosoma vivax infection in Zebu cattle. The combination of anaemia and severe lesions in the heart which are characterized by an inflammatory process with mononuclear cellular infiltration in the epicardium, myocardium and endocardium in T. vivax-infected Zebu cattle, may interfere with effective delivery of nutrients. These were suggested as being contributory factors to the occurrence of the emaciation which occurs in chronic trypanosomosis (Sannusi 1979)

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Experimental procedure
RESULTS
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