Observations on the course and pathology of Trypanosoma vivax in Red Sokoto goats

The course of trypanosomiasis was observed over a period of 68 days in eight red sokoto goats experimentally infected with Trypanosoma vivax strain Y58. The goats developed parasitaemia five days after infection; the intensity of parasitaemia varied within and between individual goats. The course of the disease was acute, subacute or chronic. Anaemia was the principal clinicopathological feature of the disease. The rate of development of anaemia was not related to the degree of parasitaemia. Other clinical signs included emaciation, weakness, rough hair coat, profuse lacrimation and development of corneal opacity. Bone marrow of infected goats showed marked erythroid hyperplasia. Erythrophagocytosis and haemosiderosis in the bone marrow, liver and spleen were the principal histopathogical features in infected goats.