Trypanosoma congolense: calf erythrocyte survival.

Hereford calves infected with Trypanosoma congolense developed an anemia which was most severe 10 weeks after infection when packed cell volumes (PCV) averaged 21.1 ± 2.5% (±2 SE) as compared to 33.1 ± 2.1% for controls. At the termination of the study, at 28 weeks postinfection PCVs of infected animals had risen to 27.5 ± 1.0% as compared to 34.0 ± 1.7% for controls. In parallel with PCVs the apparent half-lives of ⁵¹Cr-labeled erythrocytes were reduced as early as the first 2 weeks postinfection. The greatest difference in erythrocyte half-lives between infected and control animals was found during the fourth to sixth weeks of infection when volumes for infected animals averaged 128 ± 46 hr as compared to 321 ± 30 hr for controls. During this period the parasitemia was at its highest level. At 28 weeks postinfection the average apparent half-life of infected animals was 243 ± 43 hr compared with 304 ± 11 hr for controls. No differences were observed in gastrointestinal loss of ⁵¹Cr between infected and control animals; however, urinary excretion of isotope was greatly increased in infected animals when compared to controls. No significant changes in total blood volumes were observed between infected and control animals but total plasma volumes increased and total erythrocyte volumes decreased significantly in infected animals.