Synonyms

 

 

 

No known synonym

 

 

 

Name of the disease in English

 

 

 

Surra-Trypanosoma evansi infection

 

 

 

The disease in brief

 

 

 

Disease notifiable to the OIE-2018

 

 

 

The trypanosome, T. Evansi, is a flagellate parasite transmitted by biting insects to horses, camels, buffaloes and also to cattle. Morbidity and mortality rates are always high, but vary from one species to another.

 

 

 

The reservoir of infection consists of infected animals; Transmission is not by the tsetse fly, but by biting insects, such as horseflies (Tabanus sp.), Stomox and also by bats in South America. It occurs in Asia, North Africa, Central and South America.

 

 

 

Clinic & diagnosis

 

 

 

We first suspect the disease in its subacute to chronic form, when we observe both:

 

-Conjunctival or vaginal mucous membranes paler than normal (anemia)

 

-Fever

 

-A subacute (3-7 days) or chronic (1 to 4 weeks) course.

 

-Nervous signs: The bovine is drowsy, or reluctant to move, or it staggers, staggers, or it is difficult to impossible to get up, or it reacts little or not at all to stimuli.

 

-Other specific signs: We note that the problem is recurring (with improvements and relapses), or enlargement of the lymph nodes (isolated or multicentric).

 

Typical sign of the disease

 

 

 

No description

 

 

 

Pictures

 

 

 

See below

 

 

 

Diagnostic formulas

 

 

 

No description

 

 

 

Differential diagnosis

-Transmitted trypanosomiasis/ Glossina-Tse tse -N457

-Haemophilosis (sleeping sickness) NV13.2

-NV1 brain abscess

-Bacterial meningoencephalitis NV13.1

 

Confirm a suspicion?

 

 

 

You must alert the authorities via the DSV to find out the official confirmation methods; collect blood on a dry tube and on an anticoagulant tube (EDTA tube-purple cap); it is possible for a histologist to make smears for direct observation; serological tests exist as well as PCR tests in specialized laboratories.

 

 

 

Prognosis and treatment

 

 

 

If the suspicion is confirmed, the instructions given by the authorities should be followed and treatment will not necessarily be the priority: The medications that can be used are not available in France: Diminazene aceturate, Homidium bromide, or chloride, isometamidium, pyrithidium bromide. The use of these products can only be done under the direction of specialists, resistance being as common as it is feared.

 

 

 

Prevention

 

 

 

The prevention strategy is provided and organized by the health authorities. It includes insecticide treatments, but control of the vector is considered impossible, preventive treatments.

 

 

 

References

 

 

 

-Veterinary Medicine-Pocket companion -9th Edition BLOOD DC-page 473