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.
Publication Date: 2020-09-30 PubMed ID: 33000374DOI: 10.1007/s11250-020-02412-5Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
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
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. chukwuemeka.okolo@unn.edu.ng.
- 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
References
This article includes 39 references
- Anene BM, Onah DN, Nawa Y. Drug resistance in pathogenic African trypanosomes: what hopes for the future?. Vet Parasitol 2001 Mar 20;96(2):83-100.
- Ardo MB, Abubakar DM. Seroprevalence of horse (Equus caballus) brucellosis on the Mambilla plateau of Taraba State, Nigeria.. J Equine Sci 2016;27(1):1-6.
- Aregawi WG, Agga GE, Abdi RD, Büscher P. Systematic review and meta-analysis on the global distribution, host range, and prevalence of Trypanosoma evansi. Parasite and Vectors 2019, 12, 67-79.
- Büscher P, Gonzatti MI, Hébert L, Inoue N, Pascucci I, Schnaufer A, Suganuma K, Touratier L, Van Reet N. Equine trypanosomosis: enigmas and diagnostic challenges.. Parasit Vectors 2019 May 15;12(1):234.
- Cantú-Martínez MA, Segura-Correa JC, Silva-Páez ML, Avalos-Ramírez R, Wagner GG. Prevalence of antibodies to Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in horses from northeastern Mexico.. J Parasitol 2012 Aug;98(4):869-70.
- Caroll CL, Huntington PJ. Body condition scoring and weight estimation of horses. Equine Veterinary Journal 1988, 20(1): 41-45.
- Del Pino LEB, Roberto N, Vincenzo V, Francesca I, Antonella C, Luca AG, Teresa SM. Babesia caballi and Theileria equi infections in horses in Central-Southern Italy: Sero-molecular survey and associated risk factors. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases 2016, 7, 462–469.
- Delespaux V, de Koning HP. Drugs and drug resistance in African trypanosomiasis.. Drug Resist Updat 2007 Feb-Apr;10(1-2):30-50.
- Ehizibolo DO, Kamani J, Ehizibolo PO, Egwu KO, Dogo GI, Salami-Shinaba JO. Prevalence and significance of parasites of horses in some States of northern Nigeria.. J Equine Sci 2012;23(1):1-4.
- Eisler MC, Brandt J, Bauer B, Clausen PH, Delespaux V, Holmes PH, Ilemobade A, Machila N, Mbwambo H, McDermott J, Mehlitz D, Murilla G, Ndungu JM, Peregrine AS, Sidibe I, Sinyangwe L, Geerts S. Standardised tests in mice and cattle for the detection of drug resistance in tsetse-transmitted trypanosomes of African domestic cattle. Veterinary Parasitology 2001, 97, 171–182.
- Gall Y, Woitag T, Bauer B, Sidibe I, McDermott J, Mehlitz D, Clausen PH. Trypanocidal failure suggested by PCR results in cattle field samples. Acta Tropica 2004, 92, 7–16.
- Geerts S, Holmes PH, Eisler MC, Diall O. African bovine trypanosomiasis: the problem of drug resistance. Trends in Parasitology 2001, 17, 25–28.
- Herzog H. [Normal and pathologic physiology of respiration].. Bull Schweiz Akad Med Wiss 1971;27(5):403-20.
- Doughty BR. The use of a matrix in planning a teaching programme.. Br J Med Educ 1970 Mar;4(1):19-22.
- Jeffrey D. Horse dentistry, the theory and practice of equine dental maintenance, 2nd ed.. (Norfolk printing company, Nebraska).
- Noworyta J. [Reciprocal effect of organic and inorganic nitrogen source on the growth of Shigella strains and their drug-resistant mutants].. Med Dosw Mikrobiol 1974;26(3):207-16.
- Luckins AG. Methods for diagnosis of trypanosomosis in livestock. World Animal Review 1992, 71, 15-20.
- Mahmoud MS, El-Ezz NTA, Abdel-Shafy S, Nassar SA, El Namaky AH, Khalil WK, Suarez CE. Assessment of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi infections in equine populations in Egypt by molecular, serological and hematological approaches. Parasites and Vectors 2016, 9, 260-267.
- Moti Y, De Deken R, Thys E, Van Den Abbeele J, Duchateau L, Delespaux V. PCR and microsatellite analysis of diminazene aceturate resistance of bovine trypanosomes correlated to knowledge, attitude and practice of livestock keepers in south-western Ethiopia. Acta Tropica 2015, 146, 45–52.
- Mshelia WP, Sambo KW, Adamu S, Edeh EE, Onoja II. Persistence of equine piroplasmosis in horses in Nigeria. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 2016, 39, S104-S105.
- Mungube EO, Vitouley HS, Allegye-Cudjoe E, Diall O, Boucoum Z, Diarra B, Sanogo Y, Randolph T, Bauer B, Zessin KH, Clausen PH. Detection of multiple drug-resistant trypanosoma congolense populations in village cattle of south-east Mali. Parasite and Vectors 2012, 5, 155-161.
- NIH. Guide for the care and use of laboratory animals. 2011 (National Academy Press, Washington DC).
- Nugraha AB, Cahyaningsih U, Amrozi A, Ridwan Y, Agungpriyono S, Taher DM, Sivakumar T. Serological and molecular prevalence of equine piroplasmosis in Western Java, Indonesia. Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports 2018, 14, 1–6.
- Nweze NE, Okoro HO, Robaian MA, Omar RMK, Tor-Anyiin TA, Watson DG, Igoli JO. Effects of Nigerian red propolis in rats infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei. Comparative Clinical Pathology 2017, 26, 1129-1133.
- Okoh D, Eze A, Adedoja O, Okere B, Okeke PN. A comparison of IRI-TEC predictions with GPS-TEC measurements over Nsukka, Nigeria. Space Weather 2012, 10, 1-6.
- Okolo CC, Ezeh IO, Uju CN, Nweze NE. Combination of a probiotic mix and diminazene aceturate in treatment of Trypanosoma brucei infection in sprague dawley rats. Veterinary Sciences: Research and Reviews 2019, 5, 43-52.
- Okolo CC, Nweze NE, Eze IJ. Hematobiochemical and Immunological Responses of Rats Treated with Multi-strain Probiotics and Infected with Trypanosoma brucei.. Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins 2020 Sep;12(3):952-960.
- Oladipo TA, Adekunle OF, Okuneye OJ, Adebayo MD, Adeoye AT, Banjoko OJ. Pre and Post Polo Competition Prevalence of Equine Babesiosis in Stable Horses in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria. International Journal of Research in Agriculture and Forestry 2015, 2, 6-9.
- Onyiche TE, Suganuma K, Igarashi Ikuo, Yokoyama N, Xuan X, Thekisoe O. A Review on Equine Piroplasmosis: Epidemiology, Vector Ecology, Risk Factors, Host Immunity, Diagnosis and Control. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2019, 16, 1736-1759.
- Soulsby EJL. Helminthes, Arithropods and Protozoa of Domesticated Animals, 7th ed.. 1982 (Bailliere Tindall, London).
- Sumbria D, Moudgil AD, Singla LD. Equine Piroplasmosis: Current status. Veterinaria 2014, 1, 9–14.
- Sumbria D, Singla LD, Sharma A. Theileria equi and Babesia caballi infection of equids in Punjab, India: a serological and molecular survey. Tropical Animal Health and Production 2016, 48, 45-52.
- Taylor MA, Coop RL, Wall RL. Veterinary Parasitology, 4 ed.. 2016 (Wiley-Blackwell, West Susssex).
- Thrall MA, Weiser MG. Haematology: Laboratory Procedures for Veterinary Technicians, 4 ed.. 2002 (Mosby Incorporated, Missouri).
- Thrusfield M. Veterinary Epidemiology, 2 ed.. 2007 (Blackwell, USA).
- Turaki UA, Kumsha HA, Biu AA, Bokko PB. Prevalence of piroplasmosis amongst local horses in Northeastern Nigeria. IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science 2014, 7, 4-7.
- Uilenberg G. A field guide for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of African animal trypanosomosis. 1998 (FAO, Italy).
- Wise LN, Kappmeyer LS, Mealey RH, Knowles DP. Review of equine piroplasmosis. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 2013, 27, 1334–1346.
- Woo PTK. The haematocrit centrifuge for the detection of trypanosomes in blood. Canadian Journal of Zoology 1969, 47, 921-923.
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- 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.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists