Combination of a Probiotic Mix and Diminazene Aceturate in Treatment of Trypanosoma brucei Infection in Sprague Dawley Rats
Combination of a Probiotic Mix and Diminazene Aceturate in Treatment of Trypanosoma brucei Infection in Sprague Dawley Rats
Chukwuemeka Calistus Okolo1*, Ikenna Onyema Ezeh2, Chinelo Nnenna Uju3 and Nwakaego Ernestina Nweze1
ABSTRACT
Panacean trypanocidal therapy remains elusive. The objective was to investigate how a probiotic mix affects treatment outcome in trypanosomosis. Thirty-six rats randomly assigned to six groups (A--F) were used for the experiment. Supplementation with multi-strain probiotics was started in groups A--C from day 0 post-supplementation (PS). On day 7 PS all experimental groups (A--E) were challenged with 1x106 trypanosomes intraperitoneally except the uninfected control (F). When parasitaemia peaked, groups A and B received 7mgKg-1 and 3.5mgKg-1 of diminazene aceturate (DA) respectively alongside ongoing probiotics supplementation. Group C received only probiotics. Group D received 3.5mgKg-1DA only. Group E (infected control) received no treatment. Parasitaemia, haematobiochemical, and oxidative stress markers were determined. At day 13 PS, there were no significant (p< 0.05) variations in mean parasitaemia of groups A, B and D. At day 16 PS, the parasites had cleared from the peripheral blood of rats in groups A and B, but remained detectable in group D. Although group D had significantly higher total erythrocyte count and haemoglobin concentration compared to groups A--C, and E, no significant variation was seen in the total and differential leucocyte counts across all infected groups. By day 23 PS, groups A and B had similar serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferases, blood urea nitrogen, and serum creatinine levels as group D. The serum malondialdehyde and catalase levels were similar in groups A--D. Therefore, treatment with the probiotics, while enhancing clearance of trypanosomes did not improve the antioxidative and clinical outcome of the infection.
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