## 4 Discussion  
The aim of the study was to investigate the changes in the haematological, cytokines and chemokines indices in induced T2 DM male Sprague Dawley rats (SD) comorbid with _T. zimbabwensis_. The number of _T. zimbabwensis_ AW were significantly higher in Tz group when compared to the TzD group and this suggests that T2 DM had an effect in the establishment of the parasite in the small intestines in the TzD group. A low number of larvae were detected in the muscle tissue at day 21 pi and significantly increased at day 21 and 28 pi in both groups. According to [PERSON] et al. [30], the number of larvae in muscle is usually proportional to the larvae number ingested, and the presence of larvae in the muscles of susceptible mammals, except primates, is without any negative physiological effects, which suggests a mutual relationship between the host and parasite. Studies have also shown that in the intestinal phases of _T. zimbabwensis_ infection, _T. zimbabwensis_-specific antibodies are rapidly produced [31], activating a protective innate immune response against new-born larvae (NBL) and AW [32]. A lower blood glucose level in the Tz and TzD groups indicate that _T. zimbabwensis_ ML influences glucose metabolism, as supported by [PERSON] et al. [21], which reported that Trichinella infection causes hypoglycaemia in humans and in animals. Our study further shows an increase in insulin on day 35 pi in the TzD when compared to the D group, which is in agreement with a study conducted by [PERSON] et al. [33] who demonstrated that infection with _Schistosoma mansoni_ exhibited higher insulin levels than uninfected controls. According to a previous study, filarial nematode _Litomooides sigmodontis_ infection resulted in glucose tolerance improvement in obese mice after infection [34]. The reduction in liver and muscle glycogen content in the D group at day 28 and 35 pi could be due to decrease in insulin signalling [35]. A study conducted previously showed that patients who have insulin resistance and obese people had elevated concentrations of adipose tissue glycogen content, and provided proof that excess accumulation could be pathological due to high inflammation [36]. A decrease in the body weight in the D group rats in this study agrees with the findings of [PERSON] et al. [37], where body weight loss was reported in diabetic animals induced with streptozotocin. This decrease in the body weight has been linked to deterioration of structural proteins and muscle wastage, which are commonly observed as symptoms of T2 DM [25]. Increased water intake in the D group and the subsequent polydipsia in the D and TzD groups are well known markers of T2 DM in animal models, which are a direct consequence of insulin deficiency [37; 38; 39; 40]. A significant increase in RBC at day 28 pi in the D group was observed when compared to the TzD and the Tz. This finding agrees with previous studies [41; 42] and is related to indirect traits of insulin resistance (IR) syndrome [43]. In contrast to our findings, a recent study conducted by [PERSON] et al. [44] demonstrated a decrease in the RBC count, which could result in anaemia and further prompts T2 DM patients to develop microvascular (neuropathy, nephropathy, and retinopathy), as well as macrovascular complications (coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral arterial disease and stroke) [45]. A significantly higher percentage of haematocrit was observed in the D group at day 28 pi in comparison to the TzD and Tz groups. Increased levels of haematocrit are associated with resistance to insulin and are independent predictors of T2 DM [46]. Significantly higher levels of haemoglobin were observed in our present study in the D group at day 28 pi in comparison to the TzD and Tz groups. Our result agrees with a previous study that reported elevated levels of haemoglobin in type 1 diabetes, which is a risk factor in proliferative retinopathy in male subjects [47].