Haematology of experimental Trypanosoma brucei gambiense infection. II. Erythrocyte and leucocyte changes.

Chronic Trypanosoma b. gambiense infection of rabbits induced mild anaemia which was initially macrocytic normochromic, but became later microcytic hypochromic. Moderate anisocytosis and poikilocytosis were evident from 14 days post infection (p.i.). Nucleated red cells which were observed prior to the infection (normal feature of rabbits) declined in number as the infection progressed. Leucocytosis with neutrophilia, eosinophilia, monocytosis and terminal lymphopaenia were also observed. The main changes in the morphology of leucocytes were the presence of atypical lymphocytes as well as increased levels of band neutrophils in the peripheral circulation. It is concluded that the main erythrocytic and leucocytic changes in the T.b. gambiense infection were mild anaemia which was terminally microcytic hypochromic and transient leucocytosis due to neutrophilia and monocytosis.