Reduced fasting blood glucose levels following relapse in diminazene aceturate (Dinazene®) treated Trypanosoma brucei infected albino rats.

The blood glucose levels of rats were assessed following experimental Trypanosoma brucei infection and diminazene aceturate treatment. Ten adult female albino rats were randomly assigned into two groups of five rats each. Group A were infected with 106 trypanosomes while group B served as the uninfected control group. Group A rats were treated with 7 mg/kg Dinazene® (diminazene aceturate) at the peak of parasitaemia. Blood glucose level was assayed weekly while parasitaemia level was assessed daily. The blood glucose levels of the infected rats did not vary significantly (P > 0.05) from that of control group except following relapse when the values became significantly (P < 0.05) low. The implications of blood glucose reduction following relapse infection in rats is therefore highlighted and discussed.