title: The relationship between dietary energy levels and the severity of Trypanosoma brucei infection in growing pigs.
abstract: Growing pigs were placed on high, medium and low planes of dietary energy and were infected with a virulent strain of Trypanosoma brucei. During an 8-week period post-infection (p.i.), the respective liveweight gains by infected pigs on high, medium and low energy levels were 52.1, 21.2 and 38.5%, respectively, of the corresponding gains by non-infected control pigs. There was a fall in red blood cell values p.i. which worsened with decreasing energy levels. Leucocytosis was observed in all infected pig groups and was mainly due to lymphocytosis. By 6 weeks p.i., the lymphocyte count had returned to near normal values in pigs on high and medium energy levels, but was persistently high in those on a low energy level. Neutropaenia was observed in all infected pig groups and persisted until 8 weeks p.i. The results indicated that nutrition modulates the host response to infection with trypanosomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: B O
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Fagbemi
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Otesile
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Makinde
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Akinboade
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D002149:Energy Intake; D004906:Erythrocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D006400:Hematocrit / Q000662:veterinary; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D008218:Lymphocytosis / Q000662:veterinary; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000662:veterinary; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins