| dc.description.abstract | Sprague Dawley rats infected with Trypanosom·a brucei brucei strainIL3579 (2616) developed
parasitaemia characterised by intermittent remission and relapses. Infected rats developed
progressive anaemia that was macrocytic normocytic. The rats responded to trypanosome
infection by formation of antibodies, as shown by, enhanced y-globulin levels and agglutination
of trypanosomes by serum derived from infected rats.
Dexamethasone treatment, using different concentrations administered 24 hours before
infection, ablated the antibody response as evidenced by reduced r-globulin levels in the treated
groups. In dexamethasone treated rats, parasitaemia were elevated and remission eliminated,
suggesting the involvement of an antibody in trypanosome clearance in rats whose humoral
response was not compromised. The corticosteroid treatment also ameliorated the infection induced anaemia, as evidenced by reduced percentage fall in haematocrit. It is, therefore, most
probable that the r-globulin fraction not only plays a key role in trypanosome clearance but also
in the aetiology of anaemia in rodent trypanosomiasis. | en_US |
