THE SUSCEPTIBILITY OF ERYTHROCYTES TO IN VITRO PEROXIDATION IN ANIMAL TRYPANOSOMIASIS

THE SUSCEPTIBILITY OF ERYTHROCYTES TO IN VITRO PEROXIDATION IN ANIMAL TRYPANOSOMIASIS

ABSTRACT
In order to assess the role of peroxidative injury to erythrocytes in animal
trypanosomiasis, the effect of acute trypanosome infections on the susceptibility of
erythrocytes to in vitro peroxidation was studied in two experimental models involving
Trypanosoma brucei infection of mice and Trypanosoma yivax infection of calves. In the
in vitro erythrocyte peroxidation, washed erythrocytes from the infected and control
animals were incubated with 1.5% hydrogen peroxide (v/v) and the by-products of lipid
peroxidation produced were measured spectrophotometrically as thiobarbituric acid
reactive substances (TBARS). Glutathione (GSH), the primary antioxidant involved in
peroxide neutralization in erythrocytes, was also measured in the trypanosome-infected
calves.
Trypanosoma brucei produced an acute infection in 24 mice with parasitemia
occurring 3-5 days post-infection (pi). Ten mice served as uninfected controls. Nine
infected mice died before day 5 pi and another 4 died before day 8 pi, bringing mortality
rate to 54.2%. The infection caused a significant (P< 0.025) decrease in the packed cell
volume (PCV) of the tail blood of 11 survivors on days 5. and 8 pi, when compared
with the control. The heart blood PCV of the control and infected animals were not
significantly (P< 0.05) different. The peroxidized erythrocytes of the heart blood of the
infected mice produced significantly (P 0.05) greater amounts of TBARS than those of
the controls.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title page- – – – – – – – – i
Approval page – – – – – – – -ii
Dedication – – – – – – – – -iii
Acknowledgement – – – – – – – -iv
Abstract – – – – – – – – – -v
Table of content – – – – – – – -vi

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION – – – – – – – -1
1.0 Background of the study – – – – -1
1.1 Statement of the problem – – – – -5
1.2 Purpose of the study – – – – – -6
1.3 Significance of the study – – – – -8
1.4 Research questions – – – – – -9
1.5 Scope of the study – – – – – – -10

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW – – – – – – -11

CHAPTER THREE

Research methodology – – – – – – -39
Design of study – – – – – – – -40

CHAPTER FOUR

Presentation, analysis and interpretation of data – -48

CHAPTER FIVE

Summary of findings – – – – – – -60
Conclusion – – – – – – – – -61
Recommendations – – – – – – – -62
Suggestions for further research – – – – -64
References – – – – – – – – -65
Appendix I – – – – — – – – -68
Questionnaire. – – – – – – – -69

THE SUSCEPTIBILITY OF ERYTHROCYTES TO IN VITRO PEROXIDATION IN ANIMAL TRYPANOSOMIASIS

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