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Studies on the sexual behaviour, haematology and spermatogenesis of male rabbits infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei

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Abstract

A total of 24 crossbreed buck rabbits (New Zealand White × chinchilla) were used to evaluate the effect of experimental infection with Trypanosoma brucei on symptoms, sexual behaviours, haematology and spermatogenesis. The rabbits were divided into two groups (A and B) of 12 rabbits each. Group A rabbits were infected with 1.25 × 106 of T. brucei, whereas group B served as the uninfected control. The trypanosomes were detectable in the blood of all the infected bucks by day 7 post-infection (PI) with mean pre-patent period of 4.7 ± 0.85 days. The red blood cell (RBC) and packed cell volume (PCV) decreased significantly (P < 0.05) from day 8 to 28 PI. The values however improved from day 36 PI and were similar to the uninfected control. The reverse was the case of parasitaemia. Two rats died at the peak of the decrease in RBC and PCV and increase in parasitaemia. There was also significant (P < 0.05) loss in live and testis weights, reduced libido and impaired spermatogenesis in the infected group. The infected bucks showed clinical signs similar to that reported in other trypanosome-infected animals. It is concluded that susceptibility of crossbreed rabbits usually kept in Africa to pathogenic trypanosomes is characterised by an acute stage manifested by anaemia, high parasitaemia and death and chronic stage manifested by improved PCV and RBC, very low parasitaemia but high tissue damage and low productivity. Control of this disease in endemic areas for purpose of commercial rabbit production is advocated.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the useful advice and technical assistance received from Departments of Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

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  1. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

    W. S. Ezema, B. C. O. Omeke, J. I. Eze & J. A. Nwanta

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  1. W. S. Ezema
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  2. B. C. O. Omeke
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  3. J. I. Eze
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  4. J. A. Nwanta
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Correspondence to J. I. Eze.

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Ezema, W.S., Omeke, B.C.O., Eze, J.I. et al. Studies on the sexual behaviour, haematology and spermatogenesis of male rabbits infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei . Comp Clin Pathol 18, 63–68 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00580-008-0740-4

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