Serum cardiac troponin i and lactate as prognostic markers of Canine African Trypanosomiasis

The study was aimed at understanding the nature and pattern of serum lactate, cardiac troponin I changes associated with acute Trypanosoma brucei infection of dogs. It also seeks to investigate the usefulness of these biomarkers in monitoring disease progression and predicting mortality. Twenty healthy adult dogs of both sexes were used for the study. All the dogs were intra-peritoneally inoculated with 1ml of phosphate buffered saline diluted blood containing 1x106 of Lafenwa strain of T. brucei. The serum lactate, cardiac troponin I, potassium, sodium, chloride and bicarbonate were monitored before and at 16 and 24 days after infection. There was a progressive increase in serum values of lactate, cardiac troponin I and potassium at various days after infection. A significant association was found between lactate and heart rate, chloride and heart rate, potassium and cardiac troponin I. This result has shown that there could be myocardial damage due to hypoxia of anemia and hypo-perfusion in canine African trypanosomiasis. The progressive increase in serum lactate and cardiac troponin I could help in predicting severity and outcome of Canine African Trypanosomiasis. The Lactic acidosis may increase ventilation drive and consequently the heart rates of infected dogs.