The micro-minerals composition in serum of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) infected with Trypanosoma congolense

Sixteen (16) rabbits aged between 6 to 12 months were infected with fresh stock of Trypanosoma congolense (Gboko strain) intravenously at the rate of 1.0 x 10 super(6)/ml. Animals were classified into two groups; groups A were infected, while group B served as uninfected controls. Samples from the infected and the uninfected controls showed a significant increase in the levels of sodium (Na super(+)), calcium (Ca super(2+)), phosphate (PO super(2) sub(4) super(-)) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (P < 0.05) and a significant decline in the levels of potassium (K super(+)) and bicarbonate (HCO super(2) sub(3) super(-)) (P < 0.05). Therefore, the alterations in the compositions of these micro-minerals in the serum of rabbits may suggest that, they could have a role in the pathogenesis of trypanosomosis due to T. congolense infection.