Histopathological Studies on the Curative Role of Mentha longifolia in Trypanosoma evansi Experimentally Infected Rats

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Animal Health Department, Desert Research Center, Egypt

Abstract

Trypanosomiasis is an important protozoan disease of domestic animals and man. One of the important pathogenic trypanosomes in animals is Trypanosoma evansi; the causative agent of Surra that is highly fatal to a number of domesticated mammals such as camels. Mentha longifolia is a plant that has been used as traditional medicine to treat some parasitic and microbial diseases in different countries. This study was conducted to evaluate the antitrypanosomal activity of the leaf ethanolic extract of M. longifolia against experimentally induced T. evansi infection in rats. A total of 16 male albino rats were allocated into four groups of four rats each; uninfected control group (CG), plant extract group (PG), trypanosome infected  group (TG), and infected treated group (plant extract + trypanosome) (PTG). Blood and tissue samples were collected from rats on the 35th day after T. evansi infection and treatment. Hematological results obtained from T. evansi-infected rats showed microcytic hypochromic anemia with a significance of (P< 0.05). There was a significant (P< 0.05) increase in the total leukocytic count (TLC) and number of neutrophils, eosinophils, and monocytes in TG) compared to those in CG, PG, and PTG. Histopathological examination revealed necrosis, hydropic degeneration and liver apoptosis, hemorrhage, edema, inflammatory cell infiltration of kidney, demyelination of brain, lymphocytic granuloma of lung. Results of the present study showed that the antitrypanosomal activity of M. longifolia extract was not effective in vivo, despite its high antitrypanosomal activity in vitro. 

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Journal of Veterinary Medical Research
Volume 27, Issue 2
December 2020
Pages 177-189

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