Field investigation of Trypanosoma evansi and comparative analysis of diagnostic tests in horses from Bahawalpur, Pakistan

Authors: SONIA TEHSEEN, NUSRAT JAHAN, MARC DESQUESNES, MIRZA IMRAN SHAHZAD, MUHAMMAD FIAZ QAMAR

Abstract: In order to assess the prevalence of Trypanosoma evansi, a parasitological, molecular, and serological-based investigation was carried out in randomly sampled horses (n = 375) belonging to different age groups, sexes, and localities from the district of Bahawalpur, Pakistan. The diagnostic performance of applied tests was also compared. The prevalence was recorded as 0.5% with Woo's test, 1.3% with both ITS CF/BR PCR and RoTat 1.2 PCR, and 14.4% with CATT/T.evansi. Based on CATT/T.evansi, significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) were observed for prevalence estimates according to different localities, sexes, body condition scores, and origins. A nonsignificant difference (P ≥ 0.05) was observed among different age groups and variable parity numbers. Our study declares district Bahawalpur to be a high risk area for surra and proposes the potential use of CATT/T.evansi as a field test of choice for surveys in horses. However, the status of seropositive animals should be confirmed using a more sensitive molecular tool such as the satellite DNA target. A widespread status of anti-Trypanosoma antibodies calls for control measures and further investigation of various species (camels, cattle, sheep, goats, buffaloes) inhabiting the same area to identify reservoir status.

Keywords: Horses, Trypanosoma evansi, Bahawalpur

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