Histopathological Observations in Rabbits Experimentally Infected with Trypanosoma evansi

Abstract

New Zealand white rabbits (n=6) were challenged with the South Indian local strain of Trypanosoma evansi. Each animal was infected with 5x105 trypanosomes subcutaneously. Animals were daily examined for the development of clinical signs using wet blood-films sampled from the ear veins. Clinically, intermittent pyrexia, undulating parasitaemia, anorexia and emaciation were predominant. Three months post infection, rabbits were sacrificed, detailed postmortem examination was carried out and representative tissue samples were fixed. Gross pathological changes including paleness of visceral organs, gelatinization of fat, congested and oedematous lungs,mucoid enteritis, hepatomegaly and splenomegaly were noticed. Histopathologically, internal organs elucidated clear changes consisted of severe hepatic fatty change, pulmonary congestion with thickened interstitial spaces and emphysema, degeneration of the renal epithelium associated with cystic tubular formation and congested red pulp.