Abstract：
Trypanotolerance of the West African dwarf (WAD) breeds may not rule out significant pathophysiological changes that may affect productivity. In this study, the effects of infection of WAD rams with Trypanosoma brucei brucei (Tbb) and Trypanosoma congolense (Tc) on their serum levels of electrolytes [calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium]; oxidative stress markers [superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA)]; and sperm parameters [sperm count, motility, vitality, and morphology] were investigated. Fifteen WAD rams, assigned to 3 groups (A, B & C) of 5 rams each, were used for the study. Group A rams were infected with Tbb, while Group B rams were infected with Tc, both intraperitoneally, at the dose of 106 trypanosomes/animal. Group C rams served as the uninfected control. The infections were monitored for 70 days. Serum calcium levels were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in Tbb and Tc infected rams compared to the control throughout the study. Serum sodium was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the Tb infected rams compared to the Tc infected and control rams on days 14 and 28 PI. Serum SOD activity decreased while MDA levels increased in both infected groups of rams. Tbb infected rams were azoospermic, while Tc infected rams had lower sperm motility, vitality and concentration, and higher number of abnormal sperm cells compared to the control. Necrotic and inflammatory lesions occurred in the testis and epididymis of both infected rams. These results suggest that despite trypanotolerance, trypanosome infections in the WAD rams significantly impact on health and reproduction.
摘要：
西非矮人（WAD）品种的锥虫耐受性可能不排除可能影响生产力的重大病理生理变化。在这项研究中,布氏锥虫（Tbb）和刚果锥虫（Tc）感染WAD公羊对其血清电解质水平的影响[钙，磷，钠,钾]；氧化应激标志物[超氧化物歧化酶（SOD），丙二醛（MDA）]；和精子参数[精子计数，运动性,活力,和形态学]进行了研究。十五只WAD公羊，分配到3组(A，B&C)每个5个闸板，用于研究。A组公羊感染了Tbb,而B组公羊感染了Tc,都是腹膜内的，在106锥虫/动物的剂量。C组公羊作为未感染的对照。监测感染70天。在整个研究中,与对照相比,Tbb和Tc感染的公羊的血清钙水平显著(p<0.05)更低。在第14天和第28天,与Tc感染的公羊和对照公羊相比,Tb感染的公羊的血清钠显著(p<0.05)更高。在两个感染的公羊组中，血清SOD活性降低，而MDA水平升高。Tbb感染的公羊是无精子症，而感染Tc的公羊精子活力较低，活力和浓度，与对照组相比，异常精子细胞的数量更高。两种感染公羊的睾丸和附睾均发生坏死和炎性病变。这些结果表明，尽管有锥虫耐受性，WAD公羊中的锥虫感染对健康和生殖产生重大影响。
