Red Blood Cell Parameters as Indices of Susceptibility to Trypanosoma congolense Infection in Three Breeds of Nigerian Zebu Cattle

Abstract

This paper presents the changes in red blood cell (RBC) values in three major Nigerian zebu breeds of cattle, White Fulani (WF), Red Bororo (RB) and Sokoto Gudali (SG) following experimental intravenous infection with 1.5 x 10⁶ Trypanosoma congolense. Parasitaemia, Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Haemoglobin (Hb) concentration and RBC count of the animals were monitored until the PCV declined to ≤15%. Infection with T. congolense caused significant (P<0.05) reduction in the PCV, Hb concentration and RBC count. The anaemia recorded in infected cattle by 38 days post-infection (pi) was mildest in WF and most severe in SG. It was concluded that low red blood cell values (PCV, Hb and RBC) are some of the markers that are consistently associated with susceptibility of cattle to trypanosomosis. Of the three cattle breeds studied, the WF had the least decline in red blood cell value while SG and RB had the greatest decline by 38 days pi. The three Nigerian zebu cattle breeds used in this study also showed variations in their susceptibility to Trypanosoma congolense: SG and RB cattle are the most susceptible, while WF is the least susceptible.

Keywords: Zebu cattle, Susceptibility, Trypanosoma congolense, Red blood cell values.