Depleted serum haptoglobin in acute bovine trypanosomiasis

Haemoglobin-binding protein (Haptoglobin, Hp) was assayed in the sera of control and zebu calves with acute T. vivax infection. Hp in control Zebu calves ranged between 123.5 and 236.5 mg dl-1 while Hp in the infected calves was too low to measure or absent. It was suggested that absence of Hp in the infected calves may be as a result of gradual intravascular haemolysis and removal of the Hp-Hb complex by the reticuloendothelial system.