ORIGINAL_ARTICLE Time-dependent testicular and epididymal damage in rabbit bucks experimentally infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei This study was designed to determine the progressive pathological changes in the testis and epididymis of rabbit bucks experimentally infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei (T. brucei). Fifteen local rabbit bucks were divided into 2 groups comprising 8 bucks in group A and 7 bucks in group B. Bucks in group A were infected intraperitoneally with approximately 1.0x106 of T. brucei while bucks in group B served as the uninfected control. The bucks were closely monitored for clinical signs of trypanosomosis from the time of infection till the end of the study. One buck from each group was humanely sacrificed on days 9, 19, 29 and 38 post-infection (pi) and its testis and epididymis were examined for pathological changes. At post mortem, no gross lesions were observed in the infected bucks except for adhesion of the testis and epididymis to the scrotum on days 29 and 38 pi. There were no histological changes in the testis and epididymis of the infected buck sacrificed on day 9 pi apart from mild depletion of the epididymal sperm reserve. The buck infected on day 19 pi had moderate testicular degeneration but the epididymis was devoid of sperm reserve. Severe testicular and epididymal degeneration was observed in the buck on days 29 and 38 pi. The testis and epididymis of bucks from the control group were normal with evidence of spermatogenic activities and full epididymal sperm reserve throughout. The study shows that infected bucks were unfit for breeding from day 19 pi. https://macvetrev.mk 2021-10-15T09:00:00 139 147 10.2478/macvetrev-2021-0018 epididymis rabbit buck sperm reserve testis Trypanosoma brucei brucei Adewale Ayodeji Adeyeye adewale.adeyeye@udusok.edu.ng false 1 Department of Theriogenology and Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria LEAD_AUTHOR false 2 AUTHOR Musbaudeen Olayinka Alayande false 3 Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Sokoto AUTHOR Monsurat Bansima Adio false 4 Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Sokoto AUTHOR Lauratu Lawal Haliru false 5 Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Sokoto AUTHOR Aliyu Abdulrafiu false 6 Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Sokoto AUTHOR Swallow, B.M. (2000). Impacts of trypanosomiasis on African agriculture. [Internet]. Food and agriculture organization of the United Nations. Rome. http://www.fao.org/3/X4755EN/x4755en.pdf 1 Abubakar, Y.U., Oyedipe, E.O., Eduvie, L.O., Ogwu, D.O., Adeyeye, A.A. (2015). Reproduction and Trypanosoma congolense in Nigerian West African dwarf ewes: I. Effects on the estrous cycle. J Protozool Res. 25(1-2): 1-7.   2 Adeyeye, A.A., Ate, I.U., Lawal, A.I., Adamu, S. (2016). Effects of experimental Trypanosoma evansi infection on pregnancy in Yankasa ewes. Theriogenology 85(5): 862-869. PMid:26643605 3 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2015.10.034 Adeyeye, A.A., Ate, I.U., Lawal, A.I., Adamu, S. (2016a). Postpartum pathology in Yankasa ewes experimentally infected with Trypanosoma evansi during pregnancy. Comp Clin Pathol. 25(3): 593-598. 4 10.1007/s00580-016-2236-y Alayande, M.O., Adeyeye, A.A., Abdulrafiu, A, Adio, M.B, Halilu, L.L. (2019). Sexual dimorphism of rabbit bucks and does experimentally infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei. Veterinaria 68(2): 81-85. 5 Hurtado, O.J., Castro, P.D., Giraldo-Ríos, C. (2016). Reproductive failures associated with Trypanosoma (Duttonella) vivax. Vet Parasitol. 229, 54-59. PMid:27809979 6 10.1016/j.vetpar.2016.09.017 Okubanjo, O.O., Sekoni, V.O., Ajanusi, O.J., Nok, A.J., Adeyeye, A.A. (2014). Testicular and epididymal pathology in Yankasa rams experimentally infected with Trypanosoma congolense. Asian Pac J Trop Dis. 4(3): 185-189. 7 10.1016/S2222-1808(14)60502-8 Steverding, D. (2008). The history of African trypanosomiasis. Parasites Vectors. 1(1): 3. PMid:18275594 PMCid:PMC2270819 8 10.1186/1756-3305-1-3 Desquesnes, M. (2004). Livestock trypanosomoses and their vectors in Latin America. [Internet]. OIE Paris, France. https://www.oie.int/doc/ged/D9818.PDF 9 Sekoni, V.O. (1994). Reproductive disorders caused by animal trypanosomiases: A review. Theriogenology 42(4): 557-570. 10 10.1016/0093-691X(94)90373-Q Milligan, P.J.M., Baker, R.D. (1988). A model of tsetse-transmitted animal trypanosomiasis. Parasitology 96(1): 211-239. PMid:3362578 11 10.1017/S0031182000081774 Argungu, S.Y., Bala, A.Y., Majeed, Q., Usman, M., Umar, A.A. (2015). Possible transplacental transmission of Trypanosoma evansi in experimentally infected albino rats. J Zool Biosci Res. 2(1): 23-27. 12 Ate, I.U., Rekwot, P.I., Nok, A.J., Tekdek, L.B., Luga, I.J. (2006). On-farm transplacental transmission of Trypanosoma vivax in a Bunaji calf in Zaria, Northern Nigeria. Niger Vet J. 27(3): 95-98. 13 10.4314/nvj.v27i3.3533 Kumar, R., Kumar, S., Virmani, N., Yadav, S.C. (2015). Transplacental transmission of Trypanosoma evansi from experimentally infected donkey mare to neonatal foal. J Equine Vet Sci. 35(4): 337-341. 14 10.1016/j.jevs.2015.02.004 OIE. (2013). [Internet]. Trypanosomosis- tsetse transmitted. In: Office of the international epizootic. Terrestrial manual (pp. 1-11). https://www.oie.int/doc/ged/D9818.PDF 15 Akpavie, S.O., Ikede, B., Egbunike, G.N. (1987). Ejaculate characteristics of sheep infected with Trypanosoma brucei and T. vivax: changes caused by treatment with diminazene aceturate. Res Vet Sci. 42(1): 1-6. 16 10.1016/S0034-5288(18)30647-7 Ukwueze, C.S., Anene, B.M. (2011). The effects of diabetes mellitus on the pathogenicity of trypanosomosis in rats. JVMAH. 3(3): 40-44. 17 Wada, Y.A., Oniye, S.J., Rekwot, P.I., Okubanjo, O.O. (2016). Single and mixed interaction of experimental Trypanosoma brucei brucei and Trypanosoma evansi on the semen collection reaction time and spermatozoa morphology of Yankasa rams. J Adv Vet Anim Res. 3(4): 360-367. 18 10.5455/javar.2016.c174 Wada, Y.A., Oniye, S.J., Rekwot, P.I., Okubanjo, O.O. (2016). Testicular pathology, gonadal and epididymal sperm reserves of Yankasa rams infected with experimental Trypanosoma brucei brucei and Trypanosoma evansi. Vet World. 9(7): 759-765. PMid:27536039 PMCid:PMC4983129 19 10.14202/vetworld.2016.759-765 Amin, Y.A., Noseer, E.A., Fouad, S.S., Ali, R.A., Mahmoud, H.Y. (2020). Changes of reproductive indices of the testis due to Trypanosoma evansi infection in dromedary bulls (Camelus dromedarius): semen picture, hormonal profile, histopathology, oxidative parameters, and hematobiochemical profile. J Adv Vet Anim Res. 7(3): 537-545. PMid:33005681 PMCid:PMC7521820 20 10.5455/javar.2020.g451 Allam, L., Ogwu, D., Agbede, R.I., Sackey, A.K. (2012). Posterior paresis in pregnant gilts experimentally infected with Trypanosoma brucei. JVMAH. 4(3): 27-35. 21 Allam, L., Ogwu, D., Agbede, R.I., Sackey, A.K. (2014). Abortion and its probable cause in gilts experimentally infected with Trypanosoma brucei. J Protozool Res. 24, 26-32. 22 Leigh, O.O., Emikpe, B.O., Ogunsola, J.O. (2015). Histopathological changes in some reproductive and endocrine organs of Trypanosoma brucei infected West African dwarf goat does. Bulg J Vet Med. 18(1): 31-39. 23 10.15547/bjvm.831 Leigh, O.O., Fayemi, O.E. (2013). The effect of experimental Trypanosoma brucei infection on hormonal changes during the oestrous cycle, pregnancy and pregnancy outcome in West Africa Dwarf does. WJAS. 5, 685-695.  24 Adamu, S., Fatihu, M.Y., Useh, N.M., Mamman, M., Sekoni, V.O., Esievo, K.A. (2007). Sequential testicular and epididymal damage in Zebu bulls experimentally infected with Trypanosoma vivax. Vet Parasitol. 143(1): 29-34. PMid:16935425 25 10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.07.022 Woo, P.T.K. (1970). The haematocrit centrifuge technique for the diagnosis of African trypanosomiasis. Acta Trop. 27(4): 384-386. 26 Sekoni, V.O., Njoku, C.O., Kumi-Diaka, J., Saror, D.I. (1990). Pathological changes in male genitalia of cattle infected with Trypanosoma vivax and Trypanosoma congolense. Br Vet J. 146(2): 175-180. 27 10.1016/0007-1935(90)90011-Q CACC (2020). Guide to the care and use of experimental animals (Volume 1, 2nd ed.) c2020 [cited 2020 June 17]. http://www.ccac.ca/Documents/Standards/Guidelines/Experimental_Animals_Vol1.pdf 28 Ezema, W.S., Omeke, B.C., Eze, J.I., Nwanta, J.A. (2009). Studies on the sexual behaviour, haematology and spermatogenesis of male rabbits infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei. Comp Clin Path. 18(1): 63-68. 29 10.1007/s00580-008-0740-4 Batista, J.S., Riet-Correa, F., Teixeira, M.M., Madruga, C.R., Simões, S.D., Maia, T.F. (2007). Trypanosomiasis by Trypanosoma vivax in cattle in the Brazilian semiarid: description of an outbreak and lesions in the nervous system. Vet Parasitol. 143(2): 174-181. PMid:16965857 30 10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.08.017 Okpala, M.I., Ezeh, I.O., Obi, C.F., Ochiogu, I.S., Obidike, R.I., Ezeokonkwo, R.C. (2019). Impaired epididymal function in Trypanosoma brucei brucei and Trypanosoma congolense infected and treated albino rats. Comp Clin Path. 28(5): 1-6. 31 10.1007/s00580-019-02983-2 Okubanjo, O.O., Sekoni, V.O., Ajanusi, O.J., Adeyeye, A.A. (2015). Effects of experimental Trypanosoma congolense infection on sperm morphology in Yankasa rams. Mac Vet Rev. 38(2): 203-208. 32 10.14432/j.macvetrev.2015.07.050 Hermo, L., Robaire, B. (2002). Epididymal cell types and their functions. In: B. Robaire, B. Hinton (Eds.), The epididymis: from molecules to clinical practice (pp. 81-102). Springer, Boston, MA. 33 10.1007/978-1-4615-0679-9_5 Victor, I., Sackey, A.K., Natala, A.J. (2012). Penile protrusion with hemorrhages and preputial inflammation in pigs experimentally infected with Trypanosoma congolense. J Anim Prod Adv. 2(6): 297-302. 34 Anosa, V.O., Isoun, T.T. (1980). Further observations on the testicular pathology in Trypanosoma vivax infection of sheep and goats. Res Vet Sci. 28(2): 151-160. 35 10.1016/S0034-5288(18)32738-3 Ikede, B.O., Elhassan, E., Akpavie, S.O. (1988). Reproductive disorders in African trypanosomiasis: A review. Acta Trop. 45(1): 5-10. 36 Silva Pereira, S., Trindade, S., De Niz, M., Figueiredo, L.M. (2019). Tissue tropism in parasitic diseases. Open Biol. 9(5): 190036. PMid:31088251 PMCid:PMC6544988 37 10.1098/rsob.190036 Carvalho, T., Trindade, S., Pimenta, S., Santos, A.B., Rijo-Ferreira, F., Figueiredo, L.M. (2018). Trypanosoma brucei triggers a marked immune response in male reproductive organs. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 12(8): e0006690. PMid:30110342 PMCid:PMC6093638 38 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006690 Abubakar, Y.U., Oyedipe, E.O., Eduvie, L.O., Ogwu, D.O., Adeyeye, A.A. (2016). Reproduction and Trypanosoma congolense in Nigerian West African dwarf ewes: II. Genital and endocrine lesions. Afr J Cell Path. 6, 16-20. 39 Mbaya, A.W., Nwosu, C.O., Kumshe, H.A. (2011). Genital lesions in male red fronted gazelles (Gazella rufifrons) experimentally infected with Trypanosoma brucei and the effect of melarsamine hydrochloride (Cymelarsan®) and diminazene aceturate (Berenil®) in its treatment. Theriogenology 76(4): 721-728. PMid:21601916 40 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2011.04.004 Omeke, B.C., Igboeli, G. (2000). Disruption of spermatogenesis in boars sub-clinically infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei. Anim Reprod Sci. 63(3-4): 197-204. 41 10.1016/S0378-4320(00)00172-X Shehu, S.A., Ibrahim, N.D., Esievo, K.A., Mohammed, G. (2006). Pathology of experimental Trypanosoma evansi infection in Savannah Brown Buck. Pak J Biol Sci. 9(3): 522-525. 42 10.3923/pjbs.2006.522.525