Effect of intraperitoneal administration of vitamin c (ascorbic acid) on anemia in experimental Trypanosoma congolense infected rabbits

Abstract

The effect of Vitamin C supplementation on anemia in experimental Trypanosoma congolense infected rabbits
was investigated. Locally bred rabbits were infected with 6  106
trypanosomes per rabbit and infection was
monitored for 5 weeks. Packed cell volume (PCV), Total leucocytes count (TLC) and parasite load were
determined weekly. Vitamin C supplementation did not significantly affect parasitaemia in the first two weeks
of infection but parasitaemia was significantly decreased (p < 0.01) in the last three weeks of infection. Anemia
developed in the T. congolense infected rabbits as evidenced by reduced PCV during the course of the
experiment. Treatment of infection with Vitamin C had slightly, though not to a significant extent ameliorated
the T. congolense induced anemia. Leucocytosis was lower in the infected treated rabbits than in the infected
untreated rabbits. It was concluded that Vitamin C did not prevent the anemia or the leucocytosis caused by T.
congolense, but it slightly though not to a significant level ameliorated the condition.