The application of enzyme immunoassays to assess the efficacy of chemotherapy in goats experimentally infected with Trypanosoma vivax

Abstract

A group of West African Dwarf goats was experimentally challenged with an isolate of Trypanosoma vivax ‘Y58' stock. The goats were monitored serologically by using antigen-ELISA and Antibody-ELISA before and after Berenil treatment for a period lasting about sixty two days. The mean prepatent period before trypanosomes were detected in their bloodstreams was five days post-infection; circulating antigens and antibodies were detected in the goat sera at an average of four and five days respectively. While parasitaemia fluctuated with time, both antigens and antibodies were consistently detected until after treatment with Berenil. Following treatment, parasites were no longer detected in the bloodstreams. Both the antigens and antibodies dissappeared between 7 and 11 days post-treatment. The study clearly shows that enzyme-immunoassays have values in validating the host immune responses and the efficacy of chemotherapic control methods in animal trypanosomosis.

KEY WORDS: Trypanosomosis, Drugs, Goats, Diagnosis, ELISA

Nigerian Veterinary Journal Vol.25(2) 2004: 27-31