Journal of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
Journal of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
(ISSN: 2659 – 0743)
Volume 2, No. 1, 2019
Pages 41-57
Haematological and Biochemical Changes Associated with A Combination Therapy of Artemether and Diminazene Aceturate on Experimental Trypanosoma Brucei Infection in Rats
Okonkwo E. W.*, Anene B. M.*, and Ihedioha J. I.
* Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Department of Veterinary Pathology and microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the haematological and biochemical changes associated with a combination therapy of artemether and diminazene aceturate on experimental Trypanosoma brucei infection in albino rats. Thirty five male albino rats were used for the study. The groupings and their specific treatments were as follows: Group A- infected and treated with diminazene aceturate (DA) at the dose of 7.0 mg/kg body weight (bw) once on day 7 post-infection (pi); Group B – infected and treated with artemether (AM) at the dose of 3.2 mg/kg bw on day 7pi and 1.6mg/kg bw on days 8,9,10 and 11pi; Group C – infected and treated with DA at the dose of 7.0 mg/kg bw once on day 7pi and AM at the doses of 3.2 mg/kg bw on day 7pi plus 1.6mg/kg bw on days 8,9,10 and 11pi; Group D – infected and treated with DA at the dose of 3.5mg/kg bw once on day 7pi and AM at the doses of 3.2 mg/kg bw on day 7pi and 1.6mg/kg bw on days 8,9,10 and 11pi; Group E –infected and treated with DA at the dose of 1.75mg/kg bw once on day 7pi and AM at 3.2mg/kg bw on day 7pi and 1.6mg/kg bw on days 8,9,10 and 11pi; Group F – infected, untreated and Group G –uninfected, untreated. Red blood cell (RBC) counts, haemoglobin concentration (HBC) packed cell volume (PVC) total white blood cell (TWBC) counts, serum alanine amino-transferase (ALT) aspartate amino-transferase (AST), alkaline phosphate (ALP), urea and creatinine were assayed at specified intervals during the 70-day experimental period. Infection with trypanosomes led to decrease in erythrocytic parameters and TWBC counts, and elevations in serum ALT, AST, urea and creatinine which were reversed by treatment in rats in groups A and D but not in groups B, C and E. It was concluded that a combination of DA (3.5mg/kg bw once) and AM (3.2 mg/kg bw on day 1 of treatment and 1.6 mg/kg bw for 4 consecutive days) was able to reverse all haematologic and biochemical changes in trypanosomes-infected rats at rate comparable to the standard diminazene aceturate dose of 7mg/kg. It was concluded that the combination of 3.5 mg/kg of diminazene aceturate with artemether as used in group D may constitute an effective treatment regimen to reduce the occurrence of toxicity and resistance.
Keywords: Combination therapy, Artemether, Diminazene aceturate, Trypanosoma brucei, infection, rats