Effect of trypanocides on jugular concentration of Trypanosoma congolense in the West African dwarf sheep

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of the antitrypanosomal activity of fractions of Holarrhena africana

The aqueous extract of young leaves of Holarrhena africana, a plant used in the Nigerian traditional medicine, exhibited good activity against Trypanosoma brucei spp. The extract was fractionated and eight fractions were obtained. One fraction designated as HaF(5) showed in vitro activity against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense with an IC(50) value of 0.785 microg/mg and no overt cytotoxicity against L-6 cells. Fraction HaF(5) was tested in vivo at two doses and found to exhibit in vivo efficacy in Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected mice leading to a complete disappearance of parasitaemia followed by a relapse.

Trypanosomiasis control in Boran cattle in Kenya: a comparison between chemoprophylaxis and a parasite detection and intravenous treatment method using isometamidium chloride

Two methods of trypanosome control in Boran cattle kept under very high trypanosomiasis risk were compared: the traditional intramuscular isometamidium chloride prophylaxis with a parasite detection and intravenous isometamidium chloride treatment method. The results were related to a control group under diminazene aceturate treatment. Isometamidium chloride at 0.25 mg/kg as routinely used by the ranch was of little benefit by either method, with breakthrough infections occurring as early as one week after treatment. When isometamidium chloride at 1 mg/kg was used, the curative intravenous method appeared to be superior to the intramuscular prophylaxis with regard to cost of drugs and to a 31% higher weight gain over a 30 week period. Weekly infection rates in the intravenous group decreased over time, despite an increasing trypanosomiasis challenge, with a mean interval of 6.4 weeks between treatments as compared with 4.3 weeks in a diminazene aceturate control group. It was concluded that isometamidium chloride given intravenously had not only a very good therapeutic but also a considerable prophylactic effect of not less than four weeks.

The course of experimental Trypanosoma vivax infection in Uda sheep

The course of experimental Trypanosoma vivax infection in eight Uda rams was studied. All the infected animals became parasitaemic 2 days post-inoculation and remained so throughout the study period. A three-phase disease pattern was recognized, i.e. acute, subacute and chronic stages lasting 17-85 days. The disease was characterized by fever and a terminal decrease in rectal temperature despite an increase in parasitaemia with time for rams with acute and subacute infections. Mean weight loss was most marked in subacute followed by chronic cases. Gross pathological changes observed in some infected rams with subacute and chronic trypanosomosis were oedema of the face and lower jaw, hydropericardium and atrophy of the pericardial fat. Petechial haemorrhages were observed on the surfaces of the heart and kidney of rams with acute infection. Anaemia was most severe in infected rams with acute disease, followed by those with subacute infections. Also, hypoproteinaemia was observed in all infected rams. Severe clinical findings associated with the death of all the infected rams during this study might indicate that the Uda breed of sheep in very susceptible to trypanosomosis. It is, therefore, recommended that this breed of sheep, which is strictly bred and reared in tsetse-free Sahel savannah, should not be introduced into endemic areas devoid of therapeutic cover and strict tsetse fly control.

Comparison of diagnostic techniques during subclinical single infections of trypanosomiasis in goats

Parasitological diagnostic techniques were compared in caprine hosts in which single subclinical infection with Trypanosoma vivax, Trypanosoma congolense or Trypanosoma brucei brucei had been established. The haematocrit centrifuge technique (HCT) was the most sensitive for the diagnosis of T. vivax and T. b. brucei while the buffy coat method (BCM) proved superior to all other techniques for T. congolense. Except with the miniature anion-exchange/centrifugation technique (mAEC), each of the concentration methods proved as sensitive as a combination of the Standard Trypanosome Detection Methods (STDM) and could detect trypanosomes at concentrations which were five times lower than those required by the STDM. The HCT diagnosed 60.8-90%, with a mean of 78.8%. Corresponding figures for other methods were: wet film, 33.3-50.8 (39.8); mouse inoculation, 0.0-82.5 (47.8); thin film, 43.3-73.3 (52.6); mAEC, 42.4-60.0 (53.2); thick film, 52.9-60.0 (56.2); silicone centrifugation 60.8-77.7 (67.3), and BCM, 60.0-78.4 (71.6). A combination of the HCT and BCM is suggested for routine diagnosis of caprine trypanosome infections.

Effects of vasopressor drugs on number of Trypanosoma congolense in ruminant blood

The effects of intravenous administration of vasopressor drugs on parasite concentration was studied in cows and sheep infected with Trypanosoma congolense. Ephedrine (USP), adrenaline (BP) and insulin increased jugular concentration of the parasite. Maximum effects were reached between 1 1/2 and 2 h with ephedrine and at 2 1/2-3 h with adrenaline. Increases in parasitaemia resulting from epinephrine were sustained only in sheep and adrenaline gave similar effects in both ruminants. Only epinephrine significantly increased parasitaemia within 45 min of administration. Ephedrine, hydralazine and guanethidine had no significant effects on parasitaemia. It is suggested that one of the mechanisms by which trypanocides increase jugular concentration of T. congolense may be by vasoconstriction of the capillary endothelium.