Haematological and Serum Biochemical Parameters in naturally occurring cases of Bovine Trypanosomosis in North Central Nigeria

This study aimed to evaluate the Haematological and Serum biochemical changes in cattle with natural trypanosomosis in North Central Nigeria. Cattle were drawn from cases reported to the State Veterinary Hospital Minna and Area Veterinary Clinics in selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) with health problems suggestive of trypanosomosis. A total of 343 cattle were sampled of which 45 (13%) were infected with species of trypanosomes. Trypanosoma (T) vivax (5.5%), T. congolense (5.5%), and T. brucei (2.0%) were detected in the infected animals. Haematological and serum biochemical parameters of the infected and the uninfected were measured and compared. The mean PCV (23.27±6.82%), platelet (93.23±42.02 x103μl), and total leukocyte counts (4.40 ±1.64x103μl) of infected cattle were significantly lower than those of the uninfected (32.47±8.35%, 209.67±55.75 x103μl, and 8.14±3.34 x103μl). Lymphocyte counts (64.64±12.19%) were significantly higher in the infected cattle compared to the uninfected (58.19±15.29%). The mean neutrophil count (32.62±12.25%) of the infected cattle was significantly lower than the uninfected (39.46±15.05%). The biochemical parameters also differed significantly (P<0.05) between the infected and the uninfected. The mean ALT (34.62±20.57IU/L), ALP (105.48±37.97IU/L), CK (265.71±21.25IU/L) of the infected cattle were significantly higher than the uninfected (16.60±3.73 IU/L, 65.60±18.90 IU/L, and 254.12±11.32IU/L) respectively. The mean total proteins (51.50±18.28mg/dL) and glucose (31.94±13.68mg/dL) of the infected were significantly lower than the uninfected (77.20±14.46 mg/dL, 46.80±13.59 mg/dL) respectively. Albumin (24.84±8.31 mg/dl) and globulins (29.34±15.31 mg/dl) of the infected cattle were significantly lower than the uninfected (27.60±6.73 mg/dL and 49.80±15.05 mg/dL) respectively. Similarly, the mean sodium (111.82±28.84 mg/dL), chloride (91.76±25.59 mg/dL) and bicarbonates (17.46±6.76 mg/dL) levels of the infected cattle were significantly lower than the uninfected (127.8034.95 mg/dL, 98.6019.48 mg/dL, and 20.6012.58 mg/dL) respectively. The levels of calcium (2.98±0.84mg/dL), iron (1.55±0.60 mg/dL), copper (0.49±0.36 mg/dL) and zinc (2.08±1.42mg/dL) were significantly lower in infected cattle compare to uninfected animals (4.16±0.54 mg/dL, 4.45±2.07mg/dL, 0.81±0.08 mg/dL, and 7.88±2.52 mg/dL) respectively. The findings of this study will assist clinicians in the diagnosis and provide rationale clinical decisions for better and effective disease control.