Influence of nutrition on trypanosome isometamidium chloride chemoprophylaxis

Thirty six weaner wistar rats were used to study the effect of protein nutrition on trypanosome isometamidium chloride prophylaxis. Two groups of rats A and B (n = 18 per group) were maintained on 21% and 14.5% crude protein diet respectively for the twenty eight days. Thereafter, group A was sub-divided into groups A1, A2, and A3 (n = 9) and group B into B1, B2 and B3 (n = 9) respectively. Concurrently, groups A2 and B2were given isometamidium chloride at the dose of 1mg\ kg body weight intramuscularly. Fourteen days later, groups A1, A2 and B1, B2 were inoculated with 105 of a low virulent strain of Trypanosoma congolense organisms. Seven days later (before patency), the same groups were re-infected with 106 Trypanosoma brucei brucei organisms. Groups A3and B3 were left as uninfected controls. Prepatent period and parasitaemia were determined using standard techniques. Also rectal temperature and Packed Cell Volume (PCV) were determined using standard methods. Data collected were arranged according to days of activity and group means and standard deviation determined. Comparisons between groups over the course of the investigation were done using one way analysis ofvariance (ANOVA). There were inconsistent fluctuations in body temperature among all the groups. However, there was a positive correlation between treatment and nutrition on body temperature. The infections caused significant and progressive reduction in PCV(p<0.05). Isometamidium treatment appeared to protect against reduction in PCV as well as the parasitaemia profile. Generally, the HPD group first appeared more vulnerable but as the infection became chronic, more serious pathology was observed among the untreated LPD group. Within the limits of our design, there were interactions between the drug and nutrition in the pathogenesis and pathology of T. brucei brucei infection