THE EFFECTS OF TRYPANOSOMA BRUCEI INFECTION ON REPRODUCTION IN FEMALE PIGS
THE EFFECTS OF TRYPANOSOMA BRUCEI INFECTION ON REPRODUCTION IN FEMALE PIGS
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2004-02
Authors
LUSHAIKYAA, ALLAM
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
XVII
ABSTRACT
The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of Trypanosoma
brucei infection on age of attainment of puberty, duration and intensity of
estrus, fertility and pregnancy.
Twelve healthy crossbreed gilts were divided into two groups. Group one
comprised eight gilts which were infected while group two had four which
were uninfected control. The gilts in the infected group were each inoculated
with 1.8 x 106 Trypanosoma brucei, when they were 153 days old.
Trypanosomosis took a short severe and acute course killing two gilts and
later a debilitating disease causing wobbling of the hind legs of the
remaining infected gilts. This was noticed between 42 and 49 days post
infection and was characterized in some of the animals by anestrus, inability
to mate and abortion. However, the disease appeared to have no effect on
age at puberty and duration of estrus. Inflammation and necrosis of the
reproductive organs, fetal tissues retained in the uterus of infected pigs under
going necrosis, resorption and sometimes containing T. brucei were main
features noticed histopathologically.
This study suggests that Trypanosoma brucei can seriously impair the
reproductive performance of gilts, therefore adequate control measures are
required if Nigeria is to boast of self sufficiency in pig production.
Description
DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY SURGERY AND MEDICINE,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA.
Keywords
EFFECTS,, TRYPANOSOMA,, BRUCEI,, INFECTION,, REPRODUCTION,, FEMALE,, PIGS.