Haematological profile in Rattus norvegicus during experimental cysticercosis.

The present study pertains to the haematological examination of the rats experimentally infected with cysticercosis which revealed significant alterations in several parameters. Haemoglobin concentration was observed to be significantly lower in later stages of cysticercosis with respect to the control rats whereby 36% decline was observed at 60 days post infection (pi). These changes in haemoglobin were more or less parallel to those recorded for RBC counts with 18% reduction at 60 days pi. A significant rise was noticed in the erythrocyte sedimentation rates throughout the course of infection with a maximum increase (42%) at 60 days pi whereas a decline in packed cell volume as the cyst development was also evident. Leucocytosis was observed at 10, 30 and 60 days post infection with 2.6, 2.5 and 1.5 fold increase, respectively. Moreover, haematological indices were prominently altered by cysticercosis indicating macrocytic hypochromia in advance stages of the cyst development.