Seasonal variations in rectal temperature of Yankasa sheep

From measurements of rectal temperature (Tre) at 06:00h (06:00Tre) and at 14:00h (14:00Tre), meteorological stress was determined in six Yankasa ewes in terms of per cent rise of 14:00Tre over 06:00Tre reference values during the harmattan and hot-dry seasons. Absolute and mean Tre values were significantly higher (P<0.05) during the harmattan than the hot-dry season. In both seasons, mean 14:00Tre was significantly higher (P<0.01) than 06:00Tre. The mean diurnal difference between 14:00Tre and 06:00Tre, i.e. ΔTre was about 1°C during the harmattan but ranged between 0.5 and 0.7°C during the hot-dry season. All animals were observed to shiver during harmattan nights.     

Effect of Trypanosoma vivax infection on semen characteristics of Yankasa rams.

Twelve Yankasa rams aged between 2 1/2 and 3 years with good semen characteristics were used in this 15-week study. Six rams were infected with Trypanosoma vivax, while six served as controls. The infected rams developed chronic trypanosomosis accompanied by fluctuating pyrexia, lethargy, anaemia, scrotal oedema and cachexia. There was a drastic and progressive deterioration in semen quality in all infected rams manifested by a decrease in volume or cessation of semen production, oligozoospermia, a sharp decrease in progressively motile sperm, elevated numbers of dead (eosinophilic) sperm and 100% morphological abnormalities of sperm in most animals. The rams were all deemed unfit for breeding by 3 weeks post-infection. Uninfected rams were healthy and had good semen characteristics throughout the investigation. The results show that rams infected with T. vivax may become infertile within a short interval due to rapid deterioration of semen characteristics and this trypanosome species may be an important causative agent of infertility in endemic areas.     

水牛伊氏锥虫间接ELISA检测方法的建立

利用伊氏锥虫的优势变异型虫体作为可溶性抗原,通过试验研究和条件优化,建立了一种水牛伊氏锥虫间接ELISA方法.测试结果表明,该法灵敏度高,特异性强,对实验感染样本的检测获得了较好的效果,为一种有效的ELIAS方法,为广西水牛伊氏锥虫病的诊断奠定了技术基础.     

Detection of Trypanosoma evansi in camels using PCR and CATT/T. evansi tests in Kenya

Camel trypanosomosis (Surra) causes high morbidity and is an impediment to the camel husbandry in Kenya. The lack of a sensitive diagnostic test has hindered the collection of accurate epidemiological data and institution of control programmes. A cross-sectional study was conducted in three districts of Kenya to estimate the prevalence of Trypanosoma evansi (T. evansi) and to compare four diagnostic tests: polymerase chain reaction (PCR), card agglutination test (CATT/T. evansi), microhaematocrit centrifugation technique (MHCT) and mouse inoculation (MI). A total of 549 camels were randomly sampled. The overall prevalence of Surra was 5.3% using MHCT, 26.6% using PCR and 45.9% using CATT/T.evansi. There was a significant difference (P < 0.001) between PCR and CATT/T.evansi test, MHCT and MI in detection of T. evansi. The prevalence of T. evansi was 39.8% in Samburu, 24.7% in Nanyuki and 14.4% in Isiolo districts using PCR. A male camel was 2.6 times more likely to be infected with T. evansi compared to a female camel (OR = 3.0% CI: 1.6, 4.1), while an adult camel was 2.2 times more likely to be infected compared to non-adults (OR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.2, 5.0). There was a poor association between the presence of the published clinical signs and seropositivity (kappa = 0.12), PCR (kappa = 0.11) and MHCT (kappa = 0.05). However, there was a higher agreement between farmers' classification of disease with the PCR test (kappa = 0.5, n = 61). The mean PCV varied with age, presence of infection, locality and gender, with the lowest mean PCV being recorded in MHCT-positive animals (20.97 +/- 0.5) and from infected calves (19.5 +/- 1.2). This study shows that PCR was more sensitive in detecting T. evansi than other tests used. Further, the prevalence of T. evansi in the camel herds sampled is higher than that previously reported in Kenya, and that the judgment by camel keepers may be a reliable "pen-side" diagnostic test for Surra. Considering the low sensitivity of parasitological techniques in detection of chronic T. evansi infection and high cost of PCR, development of a sensitive pen side diagnostic test, with a low cost is still a priority.     

Identification of the surface components of Trypanosoma evansi.

125I-labelling was used to characterise the surface components of five stocks of Trypanosoma evansi. Two components of 67 and 60.5 kD were labelled in two of the stocks, a single 60.5 kD component in two other stocks and no components in the remaining stock. These differences are probably related to the labelling method and biochemical differences between the stocks.     

抗伊氏锥虫变异表面糖蛋白单克隆抗体的初步研究

应用淋巴细胞杂交瘤技术制备了2个抗伊氏锥虫变异表面糖蛋白的McAb。特异性实验结果表明,2个McAb只与伊氏锥虫同一变异型表面抗原发生特异反应,而不与同种异株或同株不同变异型伊氏锥虫发生交叉反应,亦不与路氏锥虫等不同种抗原反应。运用正辛酸与硫酸铵二步沉淀法纯化了腹水MeAb,纯化后的McAb活性没有明显降低。应用2个McAb,以ELISA抑制试验检测了4份伊氏锥虫血清,结果均未出现明显的抑制作用,表明血清样本间很少或完全没有与McAb相类似的抗体,进而说明伊氏锥虫存在多个血清型亦即变异抗原型。     

Trypanosoma evansi infection in bovine and buffalo calves in Indonesia.

Fifteen bovine and 11 buffalo calves born on different farms in a Trypanosoma evansi-endemic area of West Java were monitored for the presence of T. evansi and T. evansi antibody at monthly intervals until they were 12 months of age. Fifty percent of the bovine and 83% of the buffalo calves sampled in the first month of life were antibody positive. This antibody was considered to be of colostral origin. Antibody developing later in life persisted for up to 12 months and was considered to have arisen in response to T. evansi infection. No protective function could be ascribed to the colostral antibody.     

Studies on the pathogenicity of bovine herpesvirus type 5 in sheep.

Four Merino lambs were intranasally inoculated with bovine herpesvirus type 5 (BHV-5) reference strain N569. Two lambs were mock-inoculated as negative controls. The virus-inoculated animals developed apathy, inappetence, rhinitis, nasal, ocular and genital discharge, slight diarrhea and neurological disorders, like tremor and salivation. BHV-5 was isolated from the nasal discharge in two of the animals, while the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detected the virus in all the infected lambs. Two lambs died on post infection day (PID) 13, while the other two infected animals were euthanized on PID 15 and 30. Gross pathological changes were not observed, however, histopathological examinations revealed diffuse nonsuppurative meningo-encephalitis in all infected animals. Viral antigen was detected by immunohistochemistry and viral nucleic acid was revealed by in situ hybridization in the brain of the two lambs, which died on PID 13. The virus was demonstrated by virus isolation and by PCR from different organs of all the infected animals. Slight rise of antibodies was observed in the infected animals from PID 15. The results show that BHV-5 is able to cross the species barrier and may establish infection in sheep.     

伊氏锥虫对安锥赛抗药性机制的初步探讨

选用克隆伊氏锥虫的安锥赛敏感株 C0 1、C0 3和 5个不同程度抗药株 C1、C2、C4、C6、C7,用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳分离它们的己糖激酶 (HK)、6 -磷酸葡萄糖脱氢酶 (G6 PDH)、丙氨酸转氨酶 (AL AT)、天冬氨酸转氨酶 (ASAT)同功酶 ,并测定胆碱酯酶活性。结果 ,这 5种酶与伊氏锥虫对安锥赛产生抗药性无关。用 SDS-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳分离和测定这 7个样品的粗蛋白质 ,结果相对分子质量为 15 790带在抗药株 C1、C2、C4、C6和 C7含量较高 ,这表明它可能与安锥赛抗药性的产生有一定关系 ;相对分子质量为 1976 0带在高抗药株 C4、C6和 C7的含量很高 ,这表明它可能也与抗药性的产生有一定关系     

Biometrical observations on different strains of Trypanosoma evansi.

Biometrical studies on buffalo, bovine and canine strains of Trypanosoma evansi isolated from species in Madras, India, were carried out. The buffalo, bovine and canine trypanosomes varied significantly in total length and width. The buffalo strain had a greater free flagellum, total length and width compared with the canine strain.     

First report of molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of RoTat 1.2 VSG of Trypanosoma evansi from equine isolate

Rotat 1.2 variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) is considered to be an important VSG expressed in most of the isolates of Trypanosoma evansi. This makes the molecule an important candidate for both molecular- and serological-based detection of surra. There are ample reports of existence of this gene in isolates from cattle, buffalo, and camel across the world. Of late, there are reports of its absence from a fewer isolates of T. evansi of murine and wildlife origin. Search of literature revealed no reports from horses. The present communication presents the first report of molecular cloning and characterization of Rotat 1.2 VSG from horse isolate of T. evansi from semi-arid region of India. Alongside, the gene was compared with various other isolates across the world. Interestingly, the isolate was found to be closer to camel isolates from Egypt than the other known isolates from India and Kenya.

     

Trypanosoma evansi infection in buffaloes in North-east Thailand. II. Abortions

Summary By exclusion of other possible aetiological agents, strong circumstantial evidence is presented ofTrypanosoma evansi infection being the cause of late gestation abortion and stillbirth in buffaloes.

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Resumen Se presentan evidencias circunstanciales de infecciones porTrypanosoma evansi, como causa de abortos y momificaciones al final de la gestación en 32 búfalos.

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Résumé Par exclusion de r?le étiologique possible d’autres agents, de fortes preuves indirectes sont présentées qui indiquent que l’infection parTrypanosoma evansi est la cause d’avortements en fin de gestation et de mortinatalités chez 32 bufflesses.

     

Evaluation and improvement of parasitological tests for Trypanosoma evansi infection.

Research was undertaken to critically evaluate parasitological tests for the detection of Trypanosoma evansi in blood. The relative sensitivity of mouse inoculation (MI), the haematocrit centrifugation technique (HCT) and a modified miniature anion-exchange centrifugation technique (MAECT) were compared using blood and buffy coat. The effect that storage of blood prior to inoculation into mice has on the reliability of the MI test was also evaluated. The tests may be ranked in increasing order of sensitivity: HCT, MAECT with whole blood, MI with whole blood, MAECT with buffy coat and MI with buffy coat. The latter was able to detect 1.25 T. evansi per 4ml of blood. The reliability of the MI test was not reduced with storage of blood containing at least 25 T. evansi per ml for up to 21h prior to inoculation into mice. These results demonstrate that sensitivity of the MI and MAECT are increased approximately 10-fold through the use of buffy coat in place of whole blood. Although, the MI is marginally more sensitive MAECT is better suited to field use.     

Enzootiology of Trypanosoma evansi in Pantanal, Brazil

In order to better understand the enzootiology of trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma evansi in the Brazilian Pantanal we examined domestic and wild mammals by microhematocrit centrifuge technique (MHCT), immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). T. evansi infection was detected in all species sampled with exception of the sheep and the feral pig. High parasitemias were observed in capybaras (5/24), coatis (18/115), horses (31/321) and dogs (3/112). Among these species, only the capybaras did not develop anemia. Low parasitemias, only detected by PCR, were found in buffaloes (18/43), bovines (29/331), marsupials (1/4), small rodents (14/67), bats (7/18), and one armadillo (1/8). The highest prevalence of T. evansi infection was recorded in horses (73%), although no neurological signs in infected horses were observed. Diagnosis through standard parasitological tests and IFAT should be used with caution since they may overlook comprovedly infected horses. The relationship between ranch management and T. evansi infection in horse was investigated. The importance of other transmission mechanisms apart from the tabanids and reservoir hosts are discussed.