Influence of Diaminazene Aceturate (Berenil®) on the Haematology of Yankasa Sheep Experimentally Infected with Trypanosoma evansi

Haematological profiles were determined in Yankasa sheep experimentally infected with Trypanosoma evansi (T. evansi) and treated with diaminazene aceturate (berenil®). A total of 30 animals were divided into 6 groups (A to F) (n=5). Animals from each group were either uninfected or infected with T. evansi, and treated with Berenil®. Infection of the infected groups (A, C and E) was done via intravenous inoculation of T. evansi, while the infected group C and E were treated with berenil® at 3.5 and 7 mg/kg BW, respectively, by day 16 post infection (PI). The infected groups had pre-patent period of 8 days, with similar levels of parasitaemia (4.7 ± 0.27). In group A, the mean parasite count rose significantly (P < 0.05) to 72.8 ± 1.07 by day 12 PI and continue to a peak value of 250.6 ± 1.98 by day 28 PI. In group C and E, the initial parasitaemia rose significantly (P < 0.05) to 80.8 ± 1.12 and 78.2 ± 1.11 by day 12 PI, following treatment with 3.5 and 7.0 mg/kg BW of berenil®, by day 20 PI, respectively, and was completely eliminated by day 9 and 5 post treatment (PT), respectively. As parasitaemia increased, PCV, RBC, Hb, WBC, platelets count, absolute lymphocytes and monocytes, significantly declined (P<0.05) in group A, leading to anaemia at day 16 PT. It is therefore, demonstrated that both the two doses of berenil® were effective in the treatment of the disease under experimental conditions but 7.0 mg/kg cleared the parasitaemia faster.