ORIGINAL ARTICLE Biochemical changes induced by natural infection of trypanosomosis in Burkinabese local donkey breeds A. Sow & I. Sidibé & M. Kalandi & A. Bathily & N. P. Ndiaye & M. Ouédraogo & M. M. M. Mouiche & G. J. Sawadogo Received: 7 May 2012 / Accepted: 25 July 2012 / Published online: 7 August 2012 Abstract The study allowed establishing values of certain biochemical parameters in 48 donkeys selected in seven vil- lages of the agro-pastoral zone of Sideradougou, Burkina Faso. Values found in donkeys of this agro-pastoral zone were within the ranges of those found in donkeys elsewhere in the world, except that values of creatinine and aspartate amino- transferase (AST) were lower in Burkinabese donkeys. The values of these biochemical parameters varied with trypano- somosis infection in donkeys. Indeed, donkeys suffering from trypanosomosis got higher values alanine transaminase (p 0 0.035) than the noninfected donkeys. The values of AST in the healthy donkeys was (p 0 0.009). The values of total pro- teins were significantly higher in the infected donkeys (p 0 0.003), while the albumin values did not vary significantly; the variation in proteins concentration was due to globulins levels. The gamma globulin level was increased in the trypanosomosis-infected donkeys (p 0 0.003). Keywords Agro-pastoral zone . Biochemical parameters . Burkina Faso . Donkeys . Trypanosomosis Introduction In Burkina Faso, draft animals play an important role in crop production. Because of the poor mechanization in agriculture, donkeys are essential to farm as well as domestic works. Donkeys are used for many purposes, such as the transporta- tion of people and goods and the harnessed plowing for crop farming and for water drudgery. In urban areas, donkey carts are also used for the carrying of wood to households and the transportation of various other goods, especially building materials. The population of donkeys in Burkina Faso is estimated at 1,009,615 individuals, with an annual growth rate of 2 % (MRA 2008). Almost all rural Burkinabese house- holds possess at least one donkey. The western and south-western parts of Burkina Faso have a great potential for agricultural and livestock production because of the relatively wet climate compared to the northern part of the country. Unfortunately, the development of the livestock subsector is hindered by trypanosomosis. There- fore, to maintain susceptible animals in trypanosomosis endemic area, continuous use of trypanocide drugs is necessary. However, donkeys are a much neglected spe- cies in spite of their socioeconomic role. Donkeys are highly susceptible to trypanosomosis (Faye et al. 2001; Snow et al. 1996), and they are not treated systematically against trypanosomosis like cattle or small ruminants. Therefore, in Tsetse and Trypanosomosis (T&T) endemic areas, many donkeys die from the disease to the extent A. Sow (*) : M. Kalandi : G. J. Sawadogo Ecole Inter-Etats des Sciences et Médecine Vétérinaires (EISMV), Laboratoire d’Endocrinologie et de Radio-Immunologie, BP. 5077, Dakar Fann, Sénégal e-mail: wosamada@yahoo.fr I. Sidibé Pan-African Tsetse and Trypanosomosis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC/PCZLD), 01 BP. 1087, Bobo-Dioulasso 01, Burkina Faso A. Bathily : N. P. Ndiaye Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Département de Biologie Animale, BP 5005, Dakar, Sénégal M. Ouédraogo Laboratoire Régional d’Elevage de Bobo-Dioulasso, 01 BP 345, Bobo-Dioulasso 01, Burkina Faso M. M. M. Mouiche École des Sciences et de Médecine Vétérinaires, Université de Ngaoundéré, BP. 454, Ngaoundéré, Cameroun Comp Clin Pathol (2014) 23:103–109 DOI 10.1007/s00580-012-1579-2 # Springer-Verlag London Limited 2012