Experimental Infection by Trypanosoma evansi in Rabbits: Levels of Sodium, Potassium, Calcium and Phosphorus in Serum

Background: Trypanosoma evansi is the most widely distributed of the pathogenic African animal trypanosomes, affecting domestic livestock and wildlife in country. The animals presented clinical sings as anemia, emaciation, apathy, recurrent fever, enlarged lymph nodes, edema and abortion The minerals have different functions in the organism, and an imbalance, either by excess or deficiency, or a pathological condition, causes alterations in the respective serum levels, as well as in trypanosomosis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of sodium, potassium, calcium and phosphorus in blood serum of rabbits experimentally infected with Trypanosoma evansi. Materials, Methods & Results: Twelve adult female Oryctolagus cuniculus, weighing average 3.9 kg, were used. Rabbits were divided into two groups, a control group with six animals (rabbits 1-6) and an infected group with six animals (rabbits 7-12). Animals from trypanosome-infected groups were inoculated intraperitoneally with 0.5 mL of rat blood containing 108 trypanosomes (Day 1). Control group received physiological solution by the same route. Parasitemia was estimated daily for 118 days post