Influence of Cyclophosphamide on the Haematological Profile of Laboratory Bred African Soft-furred Rats (Mastomys natalensis)

Abstract

The African soft-furred rat (Mastomys natalensis) has been shown to be a possible model for propagation  of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense. This study aimed at determining the baseline biological reference values  and reproductive data of a laboratory bred Mastomys colony, which was established at TRC. In addition,  the effect of cyclophosphamide (an immunosuppressant) treatment (s) on the haematological profile  was investigated. The mean gestation period was 23 days and the mean litter size was eight. At birth, the  pups weighed 2.4±0.23 g and the weights increased to 78.0±10.6 g in males and 53.9±4.5 g in females by  90 days. The mean haematological values were significantly (p<0.05) higher in adults than juveniles.  However, there was no statistical difference of haematological values between the sexes.  Cyclophosphamide treatment caused a macrocytic hypochromic anaemia, which was noted 24 hours after  treatment and was more severe in animals treated more than once. Thus, in studies involving a disease that  causes anaemia, repeated cyclophosphamide treatment should be limited. Our study is a contribution to  the clinical and biological characterization of the disease pattern in this preferred rodent model of T. b.  gambiense.