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Parasites & vectors2020; 13(1); 148; doi: 10.1186/s13071-020-04020-6

Variation in disease phenotype is marked in equine trypanosomiasis.

Abstract: Equine trypanosomiasis is a severe and prevalent disease that has the greatest impact globally upon working equids due to its distribution across lower income countries. Morbidity and mortality rates are high; disease management strategies in endemic regions are ineffective and cost prohibitive. Individual variation in disease phenotype in other species suggests host factors could reveal novel treatment and control targets but has not been investigated in equids. Methods: A prospective clinical evaluation of equines presenting for a free veterinary examination was performed in hyperendemic villages in The Gambia. Age, body condition score and body weight were estimated by validated methods, and haematocrit and total protein concentration measured. Animals fulfilling 2 out of 5 clinical inclusion criteria (anaemia, poor body condition, pyrexia, history of abortion, oedema) for a diagnosis of trypanosomiasis received trypanocidal treatment with follow-up at 1 and 2 weeks. Blood samples underwent PCR analysis with specific Trypanosoma spp. primers and results were compared to the subject's clinical and clinicopathological features. A mixed effects generalised linear model was generated to evaluate the association of infection status with degree of pyrexia and anaemia. Results: Morbidity was high within examined (n = 641) and selected (n = 247) study populations. PCR status was not associated with a defined disease phenotype; there was intra- and inter-species variability. Donkeys were more frequently Trypanosoma spp.-positive (P < 0.001) and febrile (P < 0.001) than horses, but infected horses were more anaemic (P < 0.001), and in poorer body condition (P < 0.001) than donkeys. Sex was correlated to disease phenotype: males were more anaemic (P = 0.03) and febrile (P < 0.001). Haemoparasite co-infections were more common than a single infection. Conclusions: There was evidence of diversity in trypanosomiasis clinical signs plus variable disease phenotypes within equid subpopulations that warrant further investigation. The complex co-infection profile of field cases requires greater consideration to optimise disease management.
Publication Date: 2020-03-21 PubMed ID: 32199454PubMed Central: PMC7085162DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04020-6Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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The research study focuses on the variation in equine trypanosomiasis, a severe disease impacting working equids (horses, donkeys, etc.) in lower-income countries. It explores the difference in disease phenotypes within infected equids and analyzes factors such as age, body condition, and PCR status in relation to the illness.

Objective and Methodology of the Study

  • The purpose of the study was to explore the variation in disease phenotype in equine trypanosomiasis cases and understand potential host factors which could help in improving treatments and control targets. It focuses on a scenario where conventional disease management strategies are not enough in endemic regions due to their ineffectiveness and high costs.
  • For this study, a group of equines from hyperendemic villages in The Gambia underwent clinical evaluation. The participants were selected based on certain criteria which include symptoms like anaemia, poor body condition, fever, history of abortion, and oedema.
  • Using PCR analysis (a laboratory technique used to generate thousands to millions of copies of a specific DNA sequence), the correlation between infections status and degree of fever and anaemia was evaluated. A mixed-effects generalized linear model helped the researchers to analyze these associations.

Findings of the Study

  • The study found a palpable number of morbidity cases within the examined and selected equine populations. However, the PCR status did not correlate with a defined disease phenotype, indicating a significant variability within the species.
  • Among different species of working equids, donkeys were found to be more frequently Trypanosoma spp.-positive and had more fever occurrences than horses. Conversely, infected horses were found to be more anaemic and their physical condition was more deteriorated than that of donkeys.
  • The gender of the equids also showed correlations to the disease phenotype. Males were found to experience more anaemia and had a higher rate of fever than females.
  • A higher occurrence of haemoparasite co-infections was seen compared to a single infection, suggesting that the complex co-infection profile of field cases requires deeper exploration to enhance disease management.

Conclusion of the Study

  • The study concluded that there exists considerable diversity in the clinical signs of trypanosomiasis and variable disease phenotypes within equid populations, necessitating further investigation.
  • This research emphasizes the need to consider the intricate co-infection profile of on-field cases to improve disease management strategies and treatment protocols for equine trypanosomiasis.

Cite This Article

APA
Raftery AG, Jallow S, Coultous RM, Rodgers J, Sutton DGM. (2020). Variation in disease phenotype is marked in equine trypanosomiasis. Parasit Vectors, 13(1), 148. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-020-04020-6

Publication

ISSN: 1756-3305
NlmUniqueID: 101462774
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 1
Pages: 148
PII: 148

Researcher Affiliations

Raftery, Alexandra G
  • The Weipers Centre Equine Hospital, Large Animal Clinical Sciences and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Bearsden Road, Glasgow, UK. a.raftery.1@research.gla.ac.uk.
Jallow, Saloum
  • Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust, Sambel Kunda, Central River District, The Gambia.
Coultous, Robert M
  • Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
Rodgers, Jean
  • Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
Sutton, David G M
  • The Weipers Centre Equine Hospital, Large Animal Clinical Sciences and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Bearsden Road, Glasgow, UK.

MeSH Terms

  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Coinfection / epidemiology
  • Coinfection / parasitology
  • Equidae / parasitology
  • Female
  • Fever
  • Gambia / epidemiology
  • Hematocrit
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology
  • Horse Diseases / physiopathology
  • Horses / parasitology
  • Male
  • Phenotype
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • Prospective Studies
  • Trypanosoma / genetics
  • Trypanosoma / isolation & purification
  • Trypanosomiasis / diagnosis
  • Trypanosomiasis / epidemiology
  • Trypanosomiasis / physiopathology
  • Trypanosomiasis / veterinary

Grant Funding

  • 190648 / The Donkey Sanctuary
  • 190895 / The Donkey Sanctuary

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that they have no competing interests.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Morrison LJ, Steketee PC, Tettey MD, Matthews KR. Pathogenicity and virulence of African trypanosomes: From laboratory models to clinically relevant hosts. Virulence 2023 Dec;14(1):2150445.
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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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