Amelioration of anaemia and organ damage by combined intraperitoneal administration of vitamins A and C to Trypanosoma brucei brucei-infected rats

  The effect of combined administration of 1000 i.u/100g body weight (bd.wt.) vitamin A and 100 mg/kg bd wt. vitamin C to Trypanosoma brucei brucei-infected rats daily for twenty-one days was investigated. The anaemia caused by T. brucei infection in rats not administered the vitamins was significantly (P<0.05) more severe than that recorded in the group of infected rats given the daily doses of the vitamins. Indices of hepatic function such as serum alanine- and aspartate transaminases, and serum alkaline phosphatase activities as well as indices of renal function such as serum urea and creatinine levels were all significantly (P<0.05) elevated above levels in uninfected rats by T. brucei infection. However, combined administration of vitamins A and C to infected animals prevented the disease-induced increases in these parameters. T. bruceiinfection also caused significant hepatomegaly and splenomegaly in vitamin-free rats; however administration of the vitamins to infected rats completely prevented the hepatomegaly but only partially prevented the splenomegaly caused by infection. It was concluded that intraperitoneally administered vitamins A and C alleviated T. brucei –induced anaemia and organ damage.   Key words: T. brucei, anaemia, vitamins A and C, free radicals, organ pathology.