Effect of Pre and Post Infection Administration of Zinc and Selenium on some Biochemical indices in Wistar Rats infected with Trypanosoma brucei

Aims: The effect of pre and post-infection administration of zinc and selenium on Trypanosoma brucei brucei infection in wistar rats on some biochemical parameters were investigated.

Study Design: The study was designed to evaluate the effect of pre and post infection administration of zinc and selenium on Trypanosoma brucei brucei infection in wistar rats.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Nigerian Institute for Trypanosomiasis Research (NITR), Kaduna and Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, between January 2014 to March 2014.

Methodology: Fifty four (54) wistar rats were divided into nine groups of six (6) rats each. Groups III-IX were infected intraperitoneally with 1x103parasite load. Animals in group III were infected but untreated while the infected/treated groups received prophylactic (IV, V and VI) and therapeutic (VII, VIII and IX) treatment with zinc and selenium 50mg/kg and 10mg/kg body weight respectively.

Results: Results obtained showed that serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine amino transferase (ALT) and aspartate amino transferase (AST) activities in the infected-untreated control group were significantly different (P<0.05) and higher as compared to infected treated and normal control. Similarly, the two minerals significantly decreased (P<0.05) the levels of Urea and Creatinine in the infected treated when compared to the infected untreated rats, with the exception of creatinine value of the post-infected treated with selenium where there was no significant (P>0.05) decrease. On the other hand, a significant (P<0.05) increase in serum levels of total Protein, albumin and total bilirubin and no significant (P>0.05) difference in direct bilirubin was recorded in infected treated group compared to infected untreated and normal control.

Conclusion: It was concluded that administration of zinc and selenium ameliorate the infection-induced biochemical changes in tissues and organs associated with Trypanosoma brucei brucei infection in Wistar rats.