Abstract

The effect of Vitamin C supplementation on anemia in experimental Trypanosoma congolense infected rabbits was investigated. Locally bred rabbits were infected with 6 ´ 10⁶ trypanosomes per rabbit and infection was monitored for 5 weeks. Packed cell volume (PCV), Total leucocytes count (TLC) and parasite load were determined weekly. Vitamin C supplementation did not significantly affect parasitaemia in the first two weeks of infection but parasitaemia was significantly decreased (p < 0.01) in the last three weeks of infection. Anemia developed in theT. congolense infected rabbits as evidenced by reduced PCV during the course of the experiment. Treatment of infection with Vitamin C had slightly, though not to a significant extent ameliorated the T. congolense induced anemia. Leucocytosis was lower in the infected treated rabbits than in the infected untreated rabbits. It was concluded that Vitamin C did not prevent the anemia or the leucocytosis caused by T. congolense, but it slightly though not to a significant level ameliorated the condition.

Key words: Tryponosoma congolense, vitamin C (Ascorbic acid), anemia.