Elevation of serum cardiac troponin I Concentraion in dogs experimentally infected with Trypanosoma congolense

Abstract EN

Animal African Trypanosomosis (AAT) is a devastating protozoan disease of animals and humans caused by Trypanosoma spp resulting in a great economic loss in the livestock industries, in the sub-sahara Africa.

Cardiac troponin I is released from myocytes in both reversible and irreversible myocardial injuries.

This study investigated the expression of cardiac troponin I (cTn I) in dogs experimentally infected with Trypanosoma congolense.

Fifteen mongrel dogs of both sexes and with average body weights of 9.3 kg were divided into three groups (A, B and C).

Dogs in group A were uninfected, group B were infected but untreated, while group C were infected and treated with Diminazene aceturate at a single dose of 3.5 mg/kg intramuscularly.

The serum cTn I concentrations in infected dogs were elevated on days 1, 10 and 17 post-infection (pi).

Serum cTn I concentrations in dogs that were infected and treated decreased on day 5 post-treatment (day 22 pi) compared to those that were infected but not treated.

Post mortem and histopathological findings in the heart of a dogs that died of the disease in the infected but not treated group revealed no visible lesions.

We concluded that the elevation of cTn I in Mongrel breed of dogs can occur without structural damage to cardiac muscles._