Blood glucose, serum total protein, and liver transaminases were determined in Yankasa sheep experimentally infected with Trypanosoma evansi (T. evansi) and treated with diminazene 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 (single dose), respectively, by day 16 post-infection (PI). The infected groups had a pre-patent period of 8 days, with similar levels of parasitaemia of 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 continued to a peak value of 250.6 ± 1.98 by day 28 PI. In groups C and E, the initial parasitaemia rose significantly (p < 0.05) to a peak count of 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. The biochemical analysis showed that, from day 8 PI, the infected sheep experienced significant (p < 0.05) increases in alkaline phosphatase, aspartate and alanine aminotransferase, creatinine and urea; with decreases in blood glucose and total protein. However, these changes reverted to their pre-infection values, by day 28 PI in all the affected animals following treatment with both doses of Berenil®. It is therefore, concluded that the two doses of Berenil® (3.5 mg/kg and 7.0 mg/kg) were effective in the treatment of the disease but 7.0 mg/kg cleared the parasitaemia faster.
Key words: Biochemical, Diminazene aceturate, Experimental, Trypanosoma evansi, Yankasa sheep
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