Some plasma biochemical changes in experimental Trypanosoma brucei infection of Sokoto Red goats.

Plasma biochemical changes were studied for 8 consecutive weeks in Sokoto Red goats experimentally infected by intravenous route injection of 1.6 x 10(7) Trypanosoma brucei. The strain 8/18 was highly infective. The mean packed cell volume significantly decreased from 1 to 8 weeks post-infection (PI) at P < 0.05. During this period, the mean plasma total bilirubin concentrations significantly increased (P < 0.05). The mean plasma direct and indirect bilirubin concentrations significantly increased from 2 to 8 weeks PI (P < 0.05). The mean plasma albumin concentrations did not vary significantly (P > 0.05), but the mean total plasma proteins and mean plasma globulin concentrations significantly increased between 5 and 8 weeks post infection (P < 0.05). There were no significant changes in the mean plasma bicarbonate, creatinine and cholesterol concentration (P > 0.05).