Biochemical changes in cats infected with Trypanosoma evansi

This study aimed at evaluating biochemical changes of cats (Felis catus) experimentally infected with Trypanosoma evansi. Seven animals were infected with 108 blood trypomastigotes per animal and six were used as controls. Blood smears were performed daily for 56 days and the hepatic, renal and muscular parameters in blood serum were evaluated at days 0, 7, 21, 35 and 49. The protozoan was found in the bloodstream 24–48 h post-inoculation (PI) and irregular peaks of parasitemia were observed throughout the experiment. Muscular enzymatic activities (aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase) were increased in infected cats compared to controls. Increased concentrations of total proteins and globulins and decreased levels of albumin and albumin/globulin ratio were observed in infected group versus the controls values (P < 0.05). No alteration in serum activity of alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, creatinine and urea was observed in both groups.