Serological and parasitological survey of dourine in the Arsi-Bale highlands of Ethiopia.
Abstract: This study was conducted from August 2005 to January 2007 to determine prevalence and distribution of dourine in horses and to investigate the occurrence of clinical and carrier cases in donkeys and mules in the Arsi-Bale highlands. Study methodology was based on questionnaire, serological, clinical and parasitological survey. The questionnaire indicated that dourine is a major health problem of equines in the Arsi-Bale highlands. Though dourine is commonly observed throughout the year, it has a seasonal character and occurs mostly during the breeding season from June to late September. Serological screening of 646 horses showed a seroprevalence of 184 (28%), 161 (25%) and 125 (19%) for card agglutination test for trypanosomosis, LATEX and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Risk factors were parity number, previous history of abortion and body condition score. No trypanosomes could be detected by Giemsa staining or by haematocrit centrifugation technique. Ten puppies inoculated with blood samples, genital washes and oedematous fluids remained parasitologically negative. Different characteristic signs of dourine were observed. During the genital stage, mares showed vaginal oedema, discharge and presence of depigmented scars over the external genitalia. In stallions, oedema of the scrotum and prepuce, prepucial and urethral discharge, and ulceration of the genital mucosae mainly of the penile were observed. In both sexes, lameness in one or both legs, partial dragging and stiffness of the hind legs and incoordination were the dominant signs observed as nervous form of the disease.
Publication Date: 2009-11-20 PubMed ID: 19924557DOI: 10.1007/s11250-009-9485-6Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article discusses a study conducted between August 2005 and January 2007, which aimed to determine the prevalence and distribution of a disease known as dourine in horses, donkeys, and mules in the Arsi-Bale highlands of Ethiopia. The study also aimed to identify risk factors for the disease and observe its clinical signs.
Study Methodology and Findings
- The study approach entailed conducting a questionnaire and performing serological, clinical and parasitological surveys. The surveys uncovered that dourine is a significant health issue for equines in the study area. Dourine is observed all year round but is generally more prevalent during the breeding season from June to September.
- A total of 646 horses were screened serologically, revealing a seroprevalence of 28% for card agglutination test for trypanosomosis, 25% for LATEX, and 19% for the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
- Through the questionnaire, researchers revealed potential risk factors to be the parity number, previous history of abortion, and body condition score.
Parasitological Observation
- Despite the high prevalence of the disease in the horse population, no trypanosomes, the parasites that cause dourine, were detected using Giemsa staining or the haematocrit centrifugation technique.
- In an attempt to cultivate the parasite, ten puppies were inoculated with blood samples, genital washes, and oedematous fluids from infected equines, but all remained parasitologically negative.
Clinical Symptoms
- The research also documented various characteristic signs of dourine. During the genital stage of the disease, mares exhibited symptoms such as vaginal oedema, discharge, and depigmented scars over their external genitalia.
- Similarly, stallions showed scrotum and prepuce oedema, prepucial and urethral discharge, and ulceration of the genital mucosae, primarily of the penile.
- In both males and females, locomotion issues such as lameness in one or both legs, partial dragging and stiffness of the hind legs, and incoordination were dominant signs observed as the nervous form of the disease.
Cite This Article
APA
Hagos A, Abebe G, Büscher P, Goddeeris BM, Claes F.
(2009).
Serological and parasitological survey of dourine in the Arsi-Bale highlands of Ethiopia.
Trop Anim Health Prod, 42(4), 769-776.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-009-9485-6 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 34, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia. hagos83@yahoo.com
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Dogs
- Dourine / blood
- Dourine / epidemiology
- Dourine / parasitology
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
- Ethiopia / epidemiology
- Female
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horses
- Latex Fixation Tests / veterinary
- Logistic Models
- Male
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
- Trypanosoma / isolation & purification
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This article includes 9 references
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Citations
This article has been cited 10 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.
- Tanaka Y, Adilbish A, Koyama K, Bayasgalan MO, Horiuchi N, Uranbileg N, Watanabe K, Purevdorj B, Gurdorj S, Banzragch B, Badgar B, Suganuma K, Yokoyama N, Inoue N, Kobayashi Y. Immunohistochemical phenotyping of macrophages and T lymphocytes infiltrating in peripheral nerve lesions of dourine-affected horses. J Vet Med Sci 2020 Oct 20;82(10):1502-1505.
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