Trace minerals in serum of sheep infected with Trypanosoma congolense.

Abstract

Yankassa sheep (20) were grouped into A and B and infected with Trypanosoma congolense isolated from a cow and maintained in mice. Two milliliter x 10(7) parasites were used to infect group A. The course of the infection and serum trace minerals (Iron, (Fe) and Copper, (Cu) were studied and determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). There was significant drop in concentration of iron (p<0.001) Post Infection (pi) while that of copper, no significant change (p>0.05). The values of the contemporaneously uninfected control sheep were significantly higher for iron and not for copper. Sheep are susceptible to isolate from cow and passaged in mice and with the fluctuating concentrations of Fe and consistency of Cu, it may suggest that these minerals may have a role in the pathogenesis of trypanosomosis due to T. congolense.