Clinicopathological Studies and New Markers for Trypanosoma evansi in Experimentally Infected Rats

Traypanosoma evansi is a dangerous protozoal disease that usually results in severe economic losses in the camel producing countries. So, this study aimed to monitor some clinicopathological and pathological alterations associated with T. evansi infection experimentally and assess the diagnostic and prognostic value of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), creatine kinase (CK), cardiac troponin I and cholinesterase in T. evansi infection. In this study, 24 albino rats (12 males and 12 females) were used; samples were collected from 4 rats before the experiment (0 day) and from the rest rats at 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, 35th day after intraperitoneal injection of T. evansi. Hematological results demonstrated a significant (P<0.05) microcytic hypochromic anemia accompanied with a significant (P<0.05) leukocytosis and lymphocytopenia in T. evansi infected rats until 21st day, then the anemia converted to macrocytic hypochromic anemia. The biochemical results showed a significant (P<0.05) hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia, decreased A/G ratio, hyperglobulinemia, hypoglycemia, hyperlipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypochlestrolemia and a significant (P<0.05) increase in the renal function tests, MMP-2, MMP-9, CK, cardiac troponine I and cholinesterase activities. The main lesions in the examined organ sections were necrosis, edema, fibrosis, inflammatory cell infiltrations and loss of structure. On the other hand, MMP-2, MMP-9, CK, cardiac troponin I and cholinesterase had good values of sensitivity, specificity and correlated efficiently with the other clinicopathological changes in T. evansi infected rats. Conclusion: this study showed clearly that T. evansi infection associated with several clinicopathological as well as histopathological changes and suggested MMP-2, MMP-9, CK, cardiac troponin I and cholinesterase as new markers for T. evansi infection.