African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 5 (13), pp. 1259-1262, 3 July 2006   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2006 Academic Journals        

Full Length Research Paper

Response of microminerals in serum of sheep infected with Trypanosoma congolense

Neils, J. S.¹, Joshua, R. A.², Oladusu, L. A.²

¹Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Nigeria.

²Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan. Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: adeolajegede@yahoo.com Tel:  +234-8044 –133649.

Accepted 9 May, 2006

Twenty (20) Yankassa sheep ages between 12-18 months were infected with fresh stock of Trypanosoma congolense isolated from a cow. Animals were grouped into three; groups A and B were infected while group C served as uninfected controls. Samples between the infected and the uninfected controls showed a high significant levels of calcium (Ca) and iron (Fe) (P < 0.001) and lower of phosphorus (P) (P < 0.001). There was no significant change in the level of copper (Cu) (P > 0.05). Generally, values of the contemporaneously uninfected sheep were significantly lower for calcium and iron and higher for phosphorus and copper. Therefore, the increase in concentrations of calcium, iron and phosphorus may suggest that they could have a role in the pathogenesis of trypanosomosis due to T. congolense.

Key words: Yankassa sheep, microminerals, T. congolense, pathogensis.