Trypanosoma lewisi: pyruvate and transketolase activity in normal and thiamine deficient rats.

Transketolase and pyruvate changes were studied in rats infected with Trypanosoma lewisi and fed complete, thiamine-deficient and pair-fed control diets. Regardless of the dietary group, marked increases in pyruvate levels were observed in the infected animals. There were no significant differences in erythrocyte transketolase activity of rats given a full complement diet. Significant decreases, however, were observed in the transketolase activity of pair-fed and thiamine deficient rats. The greater decreases occurred in the infected animals.