Plasma Luteinizing Hormone (LH) in Trypanosoma congolense infected female goats and the response to Gonadotropini releasing Hormone (GnRH)-Agonist and Clonldine

Abstract

Trypanosomosis is a widespread tropical disease of humans and animals in Africa. Besides its reversal of sleep/wake cycle, trypanosomosis also causes reproductive dysfunctions. In trypanosome infected females, decrease in the plasma levels of oestrogen and progestrone have been reported as well as ovarian damage and lack of corpus luteum formation. However, while studies in males report no change or decrease in plasma LH, there are no reports on the effect of trypanosomosis on plasma LH levels in females during oestrus cycles. Therefore plasma LH levels were measured by the use of bioassay and radioimmunoassay, over several oestrus cycles in non-infected and 1: congolense infected female goats.