Abstract :
The effect of growth retardation, resulting h m feed restriction for a prolonged period, on the
course of infection with Trypanosoma viva was studied. Twelve male castrated West Africa0 Dwarf
goats were subjected to a restricted feeding reghen of 55 g pelleted lucerne (Medicago safiva)/kg
body eight^‘ʹ^ per d for on average 17 weeks. Twelve other animals were fed on pelleted lucerne od
libitum, resulting in a normal growth pattern. After this period, all animals were fed on peUeted
lucerne ad libitum, and six animatn of each previous feeding regimen treatment were infected with
Trypanosoma viva. The other animals served as controls. In week 2 and 4 post infection (pi) energy
and N balaoces were measured. In the week before infection and daring infection blood biochemical
and clinlcal variables were measured. At 2 weeks before, and 4 weeks after infection, a liver biopsy
was taken for measurement of triacylglycerol. Iofection caused intermittent fever and anaemia. The
first peak of fever persisted longer in iofected anlmaln with normal growth than in iofected aoimals
with retarded growth. Gross energy and metabolizable energy intake, and energy retention were
reduced in infected animals. Metabolizable energy requirements for mainteoaoce were increased by
infection. Plasma non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and glucose coocentratioos were increased in
infected animals, whereas s e m triiodothyronine and thyroxine coocentratioos were decreased.
Plasma urea concentration and liver triacylglycerol were uoaffected. No interaction of growth
retardation with infection with respect to blood biochemical variables was found, apart from plasma
NEFA in week 2 pi. N retention was not significantly affected by treatments. In conclusion, minor
indications were found for an interaction between growth retardation, as applied in the present
study, and trypaommiasis infection in West Africao Dwarf goats with respect to energy and N
metabolism.
