Kiptanui, Chebii
(©JIPBS, All rights reserved Journal of Innovations in Pharmaceuticals and Biological Sciences www.jipbs.com Abstract Trypanosomiasis remains a major public health problem to man over much of tropical Africa. The disease is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Trypanosoma and is fatal if untreated. The effects of T.b.brucei infection on plasma melatonin concentration and pineal gland histopathology was investigated in male albino rats. Twelve rats were each infected intraperitoneally with 0.2ml of infected blood containing approximately 1.0 x 104 live T.b.brucei parasites. Twelve other rats served as uninfected controls. Trypanosomes were detected in the blood of infected rats 5-8 days post-infection. There was a significant difference (P=0.0382) in plasma melatonin concentration between control and experimental rats. Histopathological changes in the pineal gland of experimental rats included tissue degeneration and pinealocytes with pyknotic nuclei. These histopathological changes were responsible for the decrease in plasma melatonin concentration in the experimental rats. Keywords: Trypanosomiasis, Melatonin, Pineal gland, Histopathology *Corresponding Author: Charles I. Maina, Department of Biological Sciences, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536 - 20115, Egerton, Kenya. Tel +254 728425209. Email : cimaina@yahoo.com 1. Introduction Human African trypanosomiasis, commonly known as sleeping sickness, is one of the neglected and re-emerging infectious diseases in Africa that has been accorded little attention and priority [1]. The disease is caused by flagellate protozoan parasites of the genus Trypanosoma and is transmitted by the bite of an infected tsetse fly of the genus Glossina. It is estimated that over 66 million people in 37 African countries are at risk of contracting the disease, 300,000- 500,000 people are currently affected, and 48,000 deaths can be attributed to the disease each year [2]. The disease continues to be a major health problem throughout sub-Saharan Africa and is (JIPBS), 2014-10-01)
Trypanosomiasis remains a major public health problem to man over much of tropical
Africa. The disease is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Trypanosoma and is fatal
if untreated. The effects of T.b.brucei infection ...