Seroepidemiological survey of trypanozoon infection in horses in the suspected dourine-infected Bale highlands of the Oromia region, Ethiopia.
Abstract: This paper presents the results of a seroepidemiological survey of trypanozoon infection in horses carried out between September 2007 and June 2008. The survey was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of anti-trypanozoon antibodies in 880 serum samples collected randomly from selected horse-breeding districts of the Bale highlands of Ethiopia. The seroprevalence of trypanozoon infection was found to be 173 (19.66%) and 140 (15.91%) for the CATT/T. evansi and LATEX/T. evansi tests, respectively. The high seroprevalence of trypanozoon infection strongly indicates that the infection is endemic. Neither test can differentiate between anti-trypanozoon antibodies caused by infection with T. equiperdum (the causative agent of dourine) and those of T. evansi (the causative agent of surra). The findings of the present study suggest that field-applicable screening serological tests such as the CATT/T. evansi and LATEX/T. evansi could be useful for epidemiological studies and the control of trypanozoon infection.
Publication Date: 2011-02-12 PubMed ID: 21309462DOI: 10.20506/rst.29.3.2005Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research paper outlines a study on the infection rate of trypanozoon in horses in the Bale highlands of the Oromia region, Ethiopia. It indicates a prevalence of the infection and suggests possible control measures using serological tests.
Research Background
- The research work focuses on trypanozoon infection in horses, particularly in a region of Ethiopia suspected to be infected with dourine, a disease caused by Trypanosoma equiperdum.
- The study was conducted from September 2007 to June 2008, during which 880 serum samples were collected from horses in selected breeding districts in the Bale highlands.
- The primary aim was to find out the prevalence of anti-trypanozoon antibodies, indicating the presence of the trypanozoon infection.
Research Findings
- The results of the conducted tests reveal a high seropositivity for trypanozoon infection. Out of the total samples, about 19.66% and 15.91% tested positive for the CATT/T. evansi and LATEX/T. evansi tests respectively.
- These tests, however, are unable to distinguish between anti-trypanozoon antibodies triggered by T. equiperdum (causing dourine) and those from T. evansi (causing surra), which are two different species of the parasite.
Seroprevalence and Implications
- The relatively high seroprevalence implies that the trypanozoon infection could be endemic in the area under study.
- It suggests that the diseases this parasite is known to cause (i.e., dourine and surra) could be prevalent among the horse populations in the region.
- Thus, this study pinpoints a serious veterinary and horse breeding concern that needs to be addressed.
Recommendations and Conclusion
- The study concludes that the CATT/T. evansi and LATEX/T. evansi tests can serve as beneficial initial screening tools for the detection of trypanozoon infection in horses because of their simplicity and field-applicability.
- Despite these tests’ inability to distinguish between the specific parasite species, the study urges their use for epidemiological studies and control of trypanozoon infection in such endemic regions.
Cite This Article
APA
Hagos A, Degefa G, Yacob H, Fikru R, Alemu T, Feseha G, Claes F, Goddeeris BM.
(2011).
Seroepidemiological survey of trypanozoon infection in horses in the suspected dourine-infected Bale highlands of the Oromia region, Ethiopia.
Rev Sci Tech, 29(3), 649-654.
https://doi.org/10.20506/rst.29.3.2005 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Addis Ababa University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology and Parasitology, P.O. Box 34, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia. hagos83@yahoo.com
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Endemic Diseases / statistics & numerical data
- Endemic Diseases / veterinary
- Ethiopia / epidemiology
- Female
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horses
- Male
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
- Sex Distribution
- Trypanosoma / immunology
- Trypanosomiasis / epidemiology
- Trypanosomiasis / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Mesafint E, Dejene H, Maru M, Tarekegn ZS. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of parasitic infections in equids in Ethiopia. J Parasit Dis 2023 Sep;47(3):451-464.
- Yasine A, Ashenafi H, Geldhof P, Van Brantegem L, Vercauteren G, Bekana M, Tola A, Van Soom A, Duchateau L, Goddeeris B, Govaere J. Histopathological lesions in reproductive organs, distal spinal cord and peripheral nerves of horses naturally infected with Trypanosoma equiperdum. BMC Vet Res 2019 May 28;15(1):175.
- Mekonnen G, Mohammed EF, Kidane W, Nesibu A, Yohannes H, Van Reet N, Büscher P, Birhanu H. Isometamidium chloride and homidium chloride fail to cure mice infected with Ethiopian Trypanosoma evansi type A and B. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018 Sep;12(9):e0006790.
- Holt HR, Selby R, Mumba C, Napier GB, Guitian J. Assessment of animal African trypanosomiasis (AAT) vulnerability in cattle-owning communities of sub-Saharan Africa. Parasit Vectors 2016 Jan 30;9:53.
- Sánchez E, Perrone T, Recchimuzzi G, Cardozo I, Biteau N, Aso PM, Mijares A, Baltz T, Berthier D, Balzano-Nogueira L, Gonzatti MI. Molecular characterization and classification of Trypanosoma spp. Venezuelan isolates based on microsatellite markers and kinetoplast maxicircle genes. Parasit Vectors 2015 Oct 15;8:536.
- Birhanu H, Fikru R, Said M, Kidane W, Gebrehiwot T, Hagos A, Alemu T, Dawit T, Berkvens D, Goddeeris BM, Büscher P. Epidemiology of Trypanosoma evansi and Trypanosoma vivax in domestic animals from selected districts of Tigray and Afar regions, Northern Ethiopia. Parasit Vectors 2015 Apr 9;8:212.
- 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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