IMMUNITY ENGENDERED THROUGH SELF-CURE IN ZEBU CALVES EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED WITH TRYPANOSOMA VIVAX

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Date
1984-01
Authors
NDUBISI, RAPHAEL UZOIGWE
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Abstract
The response of White Fulani Zebu calves to primary Trypanosoma vivax infection was observed over a period of 24 weeks. This was followed by a study of the effects of challenge infection with a homologous strain on the calves. The calves were between the ages of six and 12 months and were purchased from Jibiya, a tsetse-free area of Nigeria. A stock of T. vivax isolated from Ilorin in Kwara State of Nigeria was used for the primary inoculation and later for the homologous challenge. Each of the eight calves used as the experimental group was inoculated through the jugular vein with 1.6 x 108 trypanosomes. Three other calves served as the control. Temperature, parasitemia, PCV, Hb concentration, leukocyte changes and weight gain/loss were monitored. All the eight calves became infected after prepatent periods ranging between two and five days. Three (38%) out of the eight infected calves died. All calves that survived after the third week of infection were self-cured. High parasitemia and anemia were observed in the dead calves. The surviving calves showed early signs of recovery from the anaemia and exhibited ability to control the parasitemia. None of the four self-cured calves became infected following challenge with the homologous strain while the three control calves became infected. In both the primary and challenge infections the white blood cell picture did not seem to indicate adverse effect on the lymphoid system of the infected calves. It is concluded from this study that immunization of calves with live trypanosomes may have potentials for the control of trypanosomiasis in the field.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE (M.Sc) DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY AND ENTOMOLOGY FACULTY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE JANUARY, 1984
Keywords
IMMUNITY,, ENGENDERED,, SELF-CURE,, ZEBU CALVES,, EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED,, TRYPANOSOMA VIVAX
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