Pathophysiologic correlates of experimental trypanosomiasis in rabbits

Rabbits inoculated subcutaneously with Trypanosoma brucei brucei developed parasitemia, fever, and reduced food and water intake within 4 to 6 days postinoculation. Subsequent alterations in clinicopathologic parameters included anemia and increased circulating nucleated red blood cells, fibrinogenemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hyperproteinemia. Transient alterations in the numbers of neutrophils and lymphocytes were detected sporadically; however, leukocytosis was not a characteristic of this chronic infectious condition in rabbits.