Fish oil protects rat erythrocytes against oxidative stress caused by Trypanosoma evansi infection

The effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids has been the subject of intense study in many diseases; meanwhile, our understanding regarding the underlying mechanisms of omega-3 fatty acids against Trypanosoma evansi infection is still limited. A common feature of T. evansi infection is anemia. Erythrophagocytosis occurs due to direct traumatic actions of protozoa on the red blood cells, but the exact mechanisms of anemia are not yet fully understood. During infection, there is an increase in reactive oxygen species; some are highly toxic and rapidly detoxified by various cellular enzymatic and nonenzymatic mechanisms. For this purpose, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of fish oil (rich in omega-3) in protecting erythrocyte membranes from oxidative stress during experimental infection with T. evansi. For that, levels of membrane lipid peroxidation were analyzed and the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase, and catalase were also investigated. The level of lipid peroxidation increased in infected rats compared with the control, and differences were found in infected rats supplemented with fish oil 30 days before infection when compared with infected rats supplemented with fish oil after infection. Only the activity of GPx was changed in infected groups with a significantly reduced (p < 0.05) T. evansi-infected rats were treated for 30 days with fish oil (2 g/kg/day) before infection. The results suggest that the fish oil supplementation probably acts as a prophylactic treatment of T. evansi experimental infections in rats.