Prevalence of Surra among camels and horses in Jordan.

The researchers studied the prevalence of Trypanosoma evansi infection (also known as Surra) among camels and horses in Jordan. They found the disease evident in around 8% of camels and around 10% of horses tested, with the infection mostly concentrated in the warm desert-climatic zone of the Sweama area on the Dead Sea.

Research Methodology and Participants

• The primary focus of the study was to investigate Surra’s prevalence among different animal groups in Jordan, specifically camels and horses.
• The study was conducted among 437 camels, 83 horses, and nearby livestock groups of 40 donkeys, 32 cattle, and 35 goats that were in contact with the infected camels and horses.
• The animals surveyed were distributed across four different climatic zones, including the warm desert-climatic zone of the Sweama area on the Dead Sea.

Findings: Surra Prevalence among Camels and Horses

• The infection was visibly present in 8.2% of camels and 9.6% of horses, demonstrating that Surra is not an uncommon infection in these animal groups within Jordan.
• Interestingly, the infection seems to be geographically concentrated as it was limited only to the Sweama area on the Dead Sea, a warm desert-climatic zone. Here, the prevalence of the disease rose notably to 30.5% and 33.3% for camels and horses, respectively.

Observations in Other Animals

• Donkeys, cattle, and goats that were in contact with infected camels and horses were also tested for the disease.
• These proximate animal groups tested negative for the infection, suggesting that the disease might not easily transcend species.

Disease Detection Methods

• The research utilized both direct (thick blood smears) and indirect (mouse and rat inoculations) detection methods to identify the infection in all the animals tested.
• Interestingly, the indirect detection method showed a statistically greater number of positive cases in horses than the direct method, possibly indicating the presence of more latent infections or the Immunological sensitivity of horses to T.evansi.

Clinical Signs of Surra

• Infected camels and horses showcased various known clinical signs associated with Surra, which could help in swift diagnosis even before comprehensive laboratory tests.
• A unique behavior was observed in infected camels that are unprecedented – they were found to stare at the sun, a behavior not previously associated with Surra. This might be a peculiar symptom that could potentially aid in early field identification of infected camels.