LEUCOCYTE AND THROMBOCYTE CHANGES IN YOUNG DOGS INFECTED WITH TRYPANOSOMA CONGOLENSE

Abstract

Studies were undertaken to determine the effect of infection with Trypanosoma congolense on the leucocyte and thrombocyte values of six local puppies. The puppies were of mixed sexes and seven weeks old. Although the puppies became parasitaemic 6 to 7 days post infection (PI）, the effect on leucocyte counts were mild as significant leucopenia Characterised by neutropenia ensinopenia, and lymphopenia (P≤0.05) did not occur until the last four weeks of the 8 week observation period. Infection had more effects on thrombocyte counts as thrombocytopenia occured from week one PI. The low impact of infection with T.congolense on the leucocyte values of infected puppies was attributable to trypanotolerance in the local breed of dogs and low antigenicity of the strain of T. congolense used. It was concluded that, ability to resist the development of anaemia may not be the only haematological evidence of trypanitolerance in animals and that further research is needed to determine the true trypanotolerance status of breeds of local dogs in Nigeria and other parts of the West African subregion.