The relationship between parasitaemia and anaemia in concurrent The relationship between parasitaemia and anaemia in concurrent Trypanosoma brucei Trypanosoma brucei and and Haemonchus contortus Haemonchus contortus infections in red

The relationship between parasitaemia and anaemia was investigated in red fronted gazelles (Gazella rufi frons) experimentally infected either singly with Trypanosoma brucei, Haemonchus contortus, or concurrently with both parasites. The infections were found to be more virulent in the gazelles with dual infection as compared to those with single infections. The pre-patent periods for Trypanosoma brucei and Haemonchus contortus in the dual infection were 2-4 and 6-7 days as against 7-8 and 16-17 days during single infections respectively. There was a signifi cant decline (P<0.05) in packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell counts (RBC) and haemoglobin concentrations (Hb), which were more marked in those with the dual infection. Similarly, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was signifi cantly (P<0.05) elevated in red fronted gazelles (Gazella rufi frons) with the dual infection. From the foregoing we found that an inverse relationship existed between parasitaemia and anaemia in the red fronted gazelles. The effects were however more precipitous in those concurrently infected with both parasites than in those with a single infection of either of the parasites.