Growth Performance, Metabolic Efficiency and Nutrient Utilization of BALB/C Mice Infected with Leishmania major Fed with Standard Rat Pellets or Annonaceae Fruit Pulp Pellets

This study was aimed at evaluating the clinical, biochemical, and hematological changes in male BALB/C mice infected with Leishmania major fed with standard rat pellets (RP) and Annonaceae Fruit Pulp pellets (AFPP) in different experimental exposures. The results of the study showed good palatability, acceptability and normal behaviour of the mice during the whole experimental period except in the infected groups. Furthermore, the results achieved with low levels of Annonaceae fruit pulp pellets crude proteins (3.81±0.14) and lipids (2.95±0.18) were comparable with that of RP at a level of 25.28±0.04 and 18.60±0.06 respectively. The growth parameter, metabolic efficiency and feed utilization parameters between the rat pellets and Annonaceae fruit pulp pellets in non-infected, infected non-treated and infected treated groups of mice did not differ. At the same time haematological changes, liver and kidney function parameters and lipid profile of the mice that were feed with rat pellets and Annonaceae fruit pulp pellets in non-infected, infected non-treated and infected treated were also comparable same. Other parameter measured in the study such as weight of organs (liver and spleen) parasite burden (LDU) followed the same trend. However, some of the infected non-treated groups had parameters beyond the normal ranges than the non-infected and infected treated groups at the end of the experimental period. It can be concluded that Annonaceae fruit pulp pellets can be utilized as source of raw material in the manufacture of animal feeds and neutraceuticals upon further research in higher animal model.