Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Active infection and morphometric study of Trypanosoma evansi among horses in Peninsula Malaysia.
- Journal:
- Tropical biomedicine
- Year:
- 2013
- Authors:
- Elshafie, E I et al.
- Affiliation:
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A study was done to check for the presence of a parasite called Trypanosoma evansi in horses across eight states in Peninsula Malaysia. Researchers collected and tested 527 blood samples from horses, finding that only a small number (3 out of 527) had the parasite. They also noted that horses with the parasite had lower red blood cell counts, indicating anemia, which means they might be feeling weak or tired. The study suggests that while T. evansi is not very common in these horses, it can still cause health issues, and using a specific test called PCR can help detect it even when it's hard to find. Overall, the findings indicate that this parasite is present at a low level in horses in the region.
Abstract
Apart from occasional reports of clinical disease affecting horses, there is no information about Trypanosoma evansi in horses in Peninsula Malaysia. Thus, a cross-sectional study was conducted in eight states in Peninsula Malaysia to determine the active presence of T. evansi in horses. A total of 527 blood samples were obtained and examined by haematocrit centrifugation technique (HCT), Giemsa-stained thin blood smear (GSS), morphometric measurements, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cloning of PCR products. The results showed an overall parasitological prevalence of 0.57% (3/527, CI: 1.6-0.19%) with both HCT and GSS. Morphometric study revealed the mean total length of the trypanosomes including the free flagellum was 27.94 ± 2.63 μm. PCR successfully amplified a trypanosome specific 257 bp in 1.14% of samples (6/527, CI: 2.4-0.52%) and was confirmed by nucleotide sequences. The mean packed cell volume (PCV) for the positive cases detected by HCT was lower (23% ± 7.00) compared to the positive cases detected by PCR alone in the state of Terengganu (35% ± 4.73). In conclusion, this study showed T. evansi infection occurred in low frequency in horses in Peninsula Malaysia, and anaemia coincided with parasitaemic animals. PCR is considered as a sensitive diagnostic tool when parasitaemia is undetectable. The slight lengthier mean of parasite and anaemia may indicate a virulent strain of T. evansi circulating throughout the country. Thus, it's highly recommended to shed light on host-parasite relationship for better epidemiological understanding.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24189674/