Authors : S.G. Yasameen, M.M. Noordin, B.O. Emikpe and S. Kazhal
Abstract: The obscured pathogenesis of surra caused by Trypanosoma evansi with regards to reproductive failure formed the basis of this investigation. A total of 35 adult male rabbits were divided randomly into 6 groups (G1-G6) consisting of 5 animals each, based on the duration of exposure with an additional control group comprising of similar number of animals. Trypanosome-infected rabbits were inoculated intravenously with 1×105 trypanosomes/mL while the control group received phosphate saline glucose via. the same route. The Five rabbits were sacrificed and examined at 1 (G1)-6 (G6) months post-infection (p.i.). Apart from a decrease in packed cell volume, total erythrocyte count and hemoglobin concentration, the protozoan waspresent in blood 72 h p.i. The infection led to significant (p<0.0001) decreases in sperm concentration, motility and viability percentages and increases in the percentages of morphological abnormalities in the infected rabbits at one month’s p.i. respectively while there was aspermia and 0% of motility, viability and morphologic parameters in the infected rabbits at 2-6 months p.i. Histopathological changes, especially aspermia were observed as early as 2 month p.i. The antigenic expression by Immuno Histo Chemistry assay (IHC) was prominent around the seminiferous tubules in the testicular blood vessels and in the testicular interstitial connective tissue. Moreover, immunopositive reaction was seen in the interstitium of the epididymis. Our findings indicated that the pathogenesis of Malaysian isolate of T. evansi in chronically infected laboratory animal model was associated with severe destruction of the testes and epididymides that caused sterility in the infected animals.
S.G. Yasameen, M.M. Noordin, B.O. Emikpe and S. Kazhal, 2017. Pathogenesis of Testiculopathy Induced by Malaysian Isolate of Trypanosoma evansi. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 16: 48-57.