Authors : EOgwu , E.O. Oyedipe , K.Bawa , V.O. Sekoni , S.A.S. Olorunju , K.A.N. Esievo and D D.V. Uza
Abstract: Three groups of pregnant Yankasa (YK) and West African Dwarf (WAD) ewes, made up of 6pregnant YK and 6 pregnant WAD ewes in each group, were assigned at random to first, second and third trimester of pregnancy, to study the clinical manifestation of. T. vivax infection at each trimester of pregnancy. A fourth group made up of 3 pregnant YK and 3 pregnant WAD ewes served as the non-infected controls for the study. Pre- infection mean rectal temperatures of the YK and WAD ewes were 38.6 Co and 38.7 Crespectively, while post-infection temperatures were as high as 41.5 C and 41.6 C for the YK and WAD ewes respectively. The infection was severe in the infected YK and WAD ewes in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and most severe in YK than in the WAD ewes. The infected YK and WAD ewes exhibited pyrexia, signs of anaemia shown by pale mucus membrane, decrease in packed cell volume (PCV) values, decrease in total plasma protein (TP) values, weight loss, lethargy, dullness, abortions and death of ewes. The severity of the infection increased as the pregnancy advanced in the ewes. WAD ewes in the first trimester were least susceptible to the infection and self-cure was observed in one WAD ewe. The infected WAD ewes controlled the effects of the infection on abortions and mortality more than the YK ewes. It was concluded from the study that the trimester of pregnancy and breed of ewe influenced the clinical manifestation of T. vivax infection on pregnant YK and WAD ewes.
EOgwu , E.O. Oyedipe , K.Bawa , V.O. Sekoni , S.A.S. Olorunju , K.A.N. Esievo and D.V. Uza, D , 2005. Comparative Clinical Observations on Trypanosoma vivax Infected Pregnant Yankasa and West African Dwarf Ewes . Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 4: 630-636.