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Tropical animal health and production2020; 52(6); 3745-3753; doi: 10.1007/s11250-020-02412-5

Occurrence of Trypanosoma spp. and piroplasm infections of horses at Obollo-Afor southeastern Nigeria and resistance profiles of trypanosomes to isometamidium and diminazene salts.

Abstract: Epidemiological data on trypanosomosis and piroplasmosis of horses are lacking in southeastern Nigeria. The prevalence of trypanosome and piroplasm infections in horses and resistance profile of isolated trypanosomes to diminazene and isometamidium salts were investigated. For the cross-sectional study of horses billed for slaughter, 304 horses were randomly sampled. Approximately 2 ml of blood was collected into anticoagulant-treated bottles for haematocrit (HCT) determination, direct microscopic examinations, and rat inoculation. Gender, body condition scores (BCS), age groups, and body weights of sampled horses were noted. Two isolates of Trypanosoma brucei recovered from the cross-sectional study were profiled for resistance to isometamidium hydrochloride and diminazene diaceturate in 36 BALB/c mice. Standardized protocols were used (Eisler et al., Veterinary Parasitology 97:171-182, 2001). 19.1% of horses (95% confidence interval 14.7-23.5%) were positive for haemoparasite infections including Theileria equi (16.1%) and Babesia caballi (3.9%). Only two (0.66%) Trypanosoma brucei infections were seen, being from active cases. Associations between age or gender, and presence of haemoparasites were only random. Haemoparasite-infected horses had significantly (p < 0.05) lower mean HCT and body weights and poorer BCS. From resistance profiling, for each isolate, all mice in control groups were parasitaemic by day 6 post-inoculation, while mice in test groups remained aparasitaemic over 60-day observation period. The study showed the endemicity and weights of Trypanososma spp. and piroplasm infections and among horses within the area. Furthermore, circulating strains of Trypanosoma brucei in the area are still susceptible to isometamidium and diminazene salts in mice. The pharmacoepidemiological significances of these findings were discussed.
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Publication Date: 2020-09-30 PubMed ID: 33000374DOI: 10.1007/s11250-020-02412-5Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research examined the prevalence of parasites that cause diseases in horses in southeastern Nigeria and the effectiveness of two drugs, isometamidium and diminazene salts, in treating one specific type of these parasites. The study revealed that a significant number of horses in the area are infected and that the tested drugs are effective in treating the infections in mice.

Methodology

  • The study was cross-sectional and intended for horses that were scheduled for slaughter.
  • 304 horses were randomly sampled and about 2 ml of blood was collected from each animal.
  • The blood samples were used to determine haematocrit (HCT), perform microscopic examinations, and inoculate rats.
  • Data on the gender, body condition scores (BCS), age groups, and body weights of the sampled horses were recorded.
  • From the horses sampled, two isolates of Trypanosoma brucei – a parasite that causes illness in horses – were obtained and their resistance to isometamidium hydrochloride and diminazene diaceturate was profiled using 36 BALB/c mice.

Findings

  • 19.1% of the sampled horses were found to be positive for haemoparasite infections – infections caused by parasites that live in the bloodstream – including Theileria equi (16.1%) and Babesia caballi (3.9%).
  • Only two (0.66%) horses were found to be infected with Trypanosoma brucei.
  • The presence of haemoparasites in horses was not associated with the age or gender of the horses.
  • Infected horses had significantly (p < 0.05) lower mean HCT and body weights, and poorer body condition scores.
  • In the resistance profiling study, all control mice became infected (parasitaemic) by day 6 post-inoculation, but none of the test mice showed signs of infection (aparasitaemic) over the 60-day observation period.

Implications

  • The findings demonstrate that Trypanosoma spp. and piroplasm infections are endemic to horses in the studied area.
  • The two Trypanosoma brucei strains isolated in the study are still susceptible to treatment with isometamidium and diminazene salts, at least in mice.
  • The impact of these findings on epidemiological practices and their potential implications for drug resistance were also discussed.

Cite This Article

APA
Emeto UE, Okolo CC, Nweze NE. (2020). Occurrence of Trypanosoma spp. and piroplasm infections of horses at Obollo-Afor southeastern Nigeria and resistance profiles of trypanosomes to isometamidium and diminazene salts. Trop Anim Health Prod, 52(6), 3745-3753. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-020-02412-5

Publication

Tropical animal health and production
ISSN: 1573-7438
NlmUniqueID: 1277355
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 52
Issue: 6
Pages: 3745-3753

Researcher Affiliations

Emeto, Uzochukwu Ephraim
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
Okolo, Chukwuemeka Calistus
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. chukwuemeka.okolo@unn.edu.ng.
Nweze, Nwakaego Ernestina
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Babesiosis / epidemiology
  • Babesiosis / parasitology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Diminazene / analogs & derivatives
  • Diminazene / pharmacology
  • Drug Resistance
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology
  • Horses
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Nigeria / epidemiology
  • Phenanthridines / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Trypanocidal Agents / pharmacology
  • Trypanosoma brucei brucei / drug effects
  • Trypanosomiasis / parasitology
  • Trypanosomiasis / veterinary

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Longoni SS, Tiberti N, Bisoffi Z, Piubelli C. Monoclonal Antibodies for Protozoan Infections: A Future Reality or a Utopic Idea?. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021;8:745665.
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  2. Raftery AG, Gummery L, Garcia K, Mohite D, Capewell P, Sutton DGM. Equine trypanosomiasis, a systematic review and meta-analyses: Prevalence, morbidity and mortality. Equine Vet J 2026 Mar;58(2):291-319.
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