Biochemical assessment of the body fluids gives an indication of the functional state of the various body organs and biochemical changes in the fluids which result from trypanosomiasis infections depend on the species of the parasite, its virulence, susceptibility of the host and the period of infection during which the samples are taken. Evaluations of biochemical parameters are usually done on specimen that includes serum or plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obtain from infected animals or humans. Abnormal fluctuations are observe in indicators such as marker enzymes, electrolytes, plasma proteins, metabolites, plasma amino acids, hormones, haptoglobin, glucose, glycoproteins among other parameters on specimen collected. As observed from researchers past work, they often make use of few biochemical indicators which may be due to inability to get the appropriate ones to use at the point in time. This review is done to summarize the existing and new biochemical indicators used in trypanosome infection analysis.

Onchocerca volvulus Glutamate cysteine ligase (ONCVO-GCL) catalyzes the first step in the production of the cellular antioxidant glutathione (GSH), which involve the condensation of cysteine and glutamate to form the dipeptide gamma-glutamylcysteine (γ-GC). ONCVO-GCL is critical to cell survival. Its dysregulation could lead to decreased GSH biosynthesis, reduced cellular antioxidant capacity, and the induction of oxidative stress. ONCVO-GCL expression support the high level of cell proliferation and confer resistance to many chemotherapeutic agents, hence could serve as a molecular target for inhibitors. This study aims to model the 3-dimensional (3D) structure of ONCVO-GCL, validate and predict the active sites of the modelled protein. ONCVO-GCL (Uniprot ID: A0A044QR48) 3D structure was modelled and validated using SWISS-MODEL. The Computed Atlas of Surface Topography of proteins (CASTp) 3.0 was used to predict the active sites of the modelled protein. A percentage identity matrix of 41.81% was obtained, which confirms the similarity identity of 40.86% obtained from the homology modelling. Model with 88% in the most favoured region of Ramachandra plot was obtained and the more favourable active sites for docking analyses due to the similarities observed from the alignment of the modelled structure to the template structure were: GLY 2A, LEU3A, LEU 4A, ARG 40A, TRP 47A, GLY 48A, ASP 49A, GLU 50A, GLU 52A, and PRO 109A.

Natural herbs and several synthetic drugs had been used to treat trypanosomiasis and are usually directed to kill the trypanosome. However, Red Blood cells (RBCs) membranes that is the first infection site for trypanosome remains defenseless to the invasion. Hence, there is need to protect the membrane against the invasion to limit the gravity of first acute parasitaemia before immune system is ready to defend the body against the parasites.