Abstract:
Blood protozoans recovered from Rattus norvegicus were identified as Trypanosoma lewisi (Flagellata) and Plasmodium berghei (Sporozoa). The haematological values of Total Erythrocyte Count (TEC), Haemoglobin (Hb), Haematocrit (Hct), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH) and Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) significantly declined in infected male and female rats as compared to their non-infected (control) rats of both sexes. The value of Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) was significantly higher in infected male rats as compared to their control rats. However there was no significant change between the MCV values of infected and control female rats. Total leucocyte and differential leucocyte counts revealed significant rise in the values of most of the parameters of infected male and female rats as compared to their control rats of both sexes. It is evident from the results that the blood protozoan infection causes changes in the haematological parameters of the rats.
Page(s):
17-25
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Proceedings of Parasitology, Volume: 37, Issue: 1, Year: 2004