Changes in liver and fat depots of west African dwarf goats (Capra aegagus hircus) after an infection with T. vivax.

Nine West African dwarf goats (Capra aegagus hircus) were each infected experimentally with 3 x 10(7) Trypanosoma vivax parasites. The changes in the plasma concentration of nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) were monitored during the infection and the level of hepatic triacylglycerols and glycogen was measured postmortem. During the infection they had higher plasma NEFA concentrations than nine uninfected control goats and at postmortem their total liver triacylglycerol and glycogen contents were found to be increased. These observations suggest that the mobilization of the goats' defense mechanisms against the T. vivax infection induced a more intensive fat mobilization resulting in changes in fat metabolism of the liver.