Leucocytic Response In Pigs Experimentally Infected With Trypanosoma brucei and Subsequently Treated With Diffluoromethylornithine (DFMO) alone and in Combination with Diminazene Aceturate

Abstract

The effect of dl-%- Diffluoromethylornithine (DFMO) alone and its combination with Diminazene aceturate (Berenil®) treatments on the leucocytic response of T.b. brucei infected pigs was investigated. Weaning pigs were experimentally infected with T. b. brucei and monitored pre and post treatment with the test drugs for parasitaemia and leucogramic changes. The infection caused overall increases in leucocyte numbers which remained high even after treatment. The leucocytosis was characterized by lymphocytosis which did not normalize with treatment, neutropaenia which rose to pre-infection level with treatments, eosinophilia and monocytosis which slowly returned to pre-infection values following treatments. It is concluded that pigs's response to T.b. brucei infections may include a lymphocyte dominated leucocytosis which is partially sensitive to DFMO or its combination with Berenil® treatments.


Key Words: Trypanosoma brucei, pigs, diffluoromethylornithine, diminazene aceturate.


Trop. Vet. Vol. 21: (4) 192-199 (2003)