Effects of Diminazene Diaceturate (veriben®) on Serum and Clinico-pathological Changes in Guinea Pigs (Cavia porcellus) Experimentally Infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei

The study was designed to determine effects of diminazene diaceturate (veriben®) on the serum and clinico-pathological changes in guinea pigs experimentally infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei (T. brucei brucei). Thirty apparently healthy unsexed guinea pig weighing between 5-10 kg were used for the study. Trypanosoma brucei brucei and 4 Albino rats used as donorswere obtained from NAITOR (Nigerian Institute of Trypanosome and Onchcerciasis) Kaduna State Nigeria. Guinea Pigs were randomly allocated into 6 groups designated as A, B, C, D, E and F. All the infected (A,B and C) had prepatent period of 16 days with similar level of parasitaemia of 45.7 ± 3.38 and clinical sign observed are pyrexia, pale feet, snout, anaemia and emaciation. Mean chloride, bicarbonate, sodium, calcium, potassium and magnesium serum ion concentration level decreased significantly following establishment of parasitemia. These changes reverted to their pre-infection values by day 28 in all the affected animals following treatment with diminazine diaceturate (veriben®) at 3.5 mg/kg and 7.0 mg/kg BW. Liver, kidney, lungs, and spleen samples were taking from humanly sacrificed guinea pig and fixed in 10% formalin. The histopathological examination from positive control animals showed no visible area of lesions but in contrast with the infected negative control group revealed gross distortion of tissue architecture. Observations from the treated animals showed less distortions of tissue architecture this might have been aided by administered drugs at 7.0 mg/kg. In conclusion, evidence has shown that the administration of Veriben® at the dose rate of 3.5 mg/kg and 7.0 mg/kg have the potentials of modulating the state of anaemia, immunosuppression and serum electrolytes levels, gross and histopathological changes in trypanosome-infected guinea pigs in a dose dependent manner.