ISSN 4391-3199
African Journal of Chemistry ISSN 4391-3199 Vol. 5 (7), pp. 338-341, July, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Effect of intraperitoneal administration of vitamin c (ascorbic acid) on anemia in experimental Trypanosoma congolense infected rabbits
Toma, I1, Shinggu, D. Y1*, Ezekiel, W1 and Barminas, J. T 2
1Chemistry Department, Adamawa State University, Mubi, P. M. B. 25, Mubi, Nigeria.
2Chemistry Department, Federal University of Technology, P. M. B.2076, Yola, Nigeria.
Accepted 23 March, 2018
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 the T. 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.