TRYPANOSOMOSIS

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Causative Agent(s)

A haemoflagellate protozoan, Trypanosoma spp. is the cause of the disease. Cattle, sheep, and goats are infected, in order of importance, by Trypanosma congolense, T. vivax, and T. brucei brucei.

Clinical Presentation and Epidemiology

The primary clinical signs are intermittent fever, anaemia (pale mucous membrane), and weight loss progressing to emaciation. Lacrimation with or without corneal opacity and superficial lymphadenopathy are evident. Abortion in pregnant cow may also occur. In acute and severe cases, increased heart rate, increased respiratory rate, lethargy and recumbency are also evident. Later on the animal becomes unresponsive to external stimuli and pallor of the mucous membranes become apparent. Death may occur 4-6 weeks post-infection.

 

Diagnostic Considerations

Demonstration of the parasites in wet blood smears are useful in field diagnosis and in air-dried thin or thick smears stained with Giemsa are used for specific diagnosis.

Management and Treatment

• Specific treatment using diminazene aceturate (3.5 or 0 mg/kg)
• Homidium bromide (1 mg/kg);
• Isometamidium chloride (0.5-1 mg/kg);
• Suramin (12 mg/kg) are used as both curative and prophylactic