Volume 14, Issue 1: 2024 - Article 143

Abstract
Both pollutants and parasites can affect any living organism, and their interaction is dependent on factors such as the level and duration of toxic exposure, as well as the route and time of exposure to the pollutant/parasite. This study investigated the effects of time of exposure to lead (relative to time of infection) on blood and oxidative stress parameters of mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. Twenty-five albino mice were used for the study. They were randomly assigned to five groups of five each, as follows: Group 1 – Normal control; Group 2 – Infected with parasite only (PO); Group 3 – Intoxicated with lead only (LO); Group 4 – Infected with the parasite before lead intoxication (PL); and Group 5 – Lead intoxication before infection with the parasite (LP). Lead intoxication was administered through drinking water, and the LP group was intoxicated six days before the Plasmodium berghei infection. The percentage of Plasmodium parasitaemia, haemoglobin (Hb) concentration, red blood cell (RBC) morphology and some oxidative stress parameters were evaluated. Results showed that the percentage of parasitaemia was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in the PL and LP groups compared to the PO group. Haemoglobin concentration was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in the LO group. The LP group had a significantly (p < 0.05) higher number of macrocytes, while the LO and PO groups had a significantly (p < 0.05) higher number of microcytes. The PO group further had significantly higher plasma level of malondialdehyde while the LP, LO and PO groups had significantly (p < 0.05) higher plasma catalase activity. These findings suggest that time of exposure played a crucial role in the interaction between lead intoxication and the Plasmodium berghei infection on the blood and oxidative stress parameters of the mice.

Keywords: Lead intoxication; Plasmodium berghei infection; Mice; Parasitaemia; Haemoglobin concentration; Red Blood Cell Morphology; Oxidative stress parameters.

How to cite this article:
Chiamah OC, Madukwe C, Paul KC, Mbakaogu UA, Adeoye OO, Amaechi CC, Ukaegbu MC, Udechukwu CD and Ubachukwu PO
(2024). Effects of time of lead intoxication on some blood and oxidative stress parameters of mice experimentally infected with
Plasmodium berghei. Journal of Veterinary and Applied Sciences, 14(1): 521 – 532.

*Correspondence: E-mail:     caroline.okeke@unn.edu.ng      Phone: +2348030640703

Effects of time of lead intoxication on some blood and oxidative stress parameters of mice experimentally infected with Plasmodium berghei
Ogochukwu C. Chiamah ¹ *, Chikwado Madukwe ¹, Kingsley C. Paul ¹, Ugochukwu A. Mbakaogu ¹, Olatunde O. Adeoye ¹, Chizoba C. Amaechi ¹, Micheal C. Ukaegbu ¹, Chidozie D. Udechukwu ¹, Patience O. Ubachukwu ²
1 Department of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
² Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.

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