A NEW PCR-RFLP FOR SPECIES-SPECIFIC DIAGNOSIS OF SOUTH AMERICAN ANIMAL TRYPANOSOMIASIS

Garcã­a Garcã­A

doi:10.3844/ajavsp.2014.128.136

Abstract

The diagnosis of animal trypanosomiasis in field sa mples is currently based on clinical suspicion and less frequently on traditional parasitological methods c haracterized by their very low sensitivity, especia lly in the subacute and chronic phase of the infection. Molecular tools such as Polymerase Chain Reaction have been shown to reach the highest sensitivity percentages, but with out good resolution for all of the South American c irculating species ( T. vivax , T. evansi and T. theileri ) or with specificity for only one of these species . In this study, a new PCR-RFLP for species-specific diagnosis of Trypanosomiasis is presented. This method displayed good resolution, sensitivity and specificity for differe ntiation of the three aforementioned species identi fied from naturally infected Colombian bovines and water buffaloes. In addition, epidemiological and clinical da ta were also collected and analyzed from the sampled animals and significant associations were identified.

Highlights

Animal Trypanosomiasis were estimated at US$6 million as a consequence of lost production, treatment, Animal Trypanosomiasis is a widely distributed disease that affects multiple species of mammals, including bovines and buffaloes
This tool is based on the double restriction of 18 Ssu semi-nested Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) products, leading to excellent performance in the discrimination of most relevant Trypanosome species involved in African Animal and Human Trypanosomiasis
Restriction analysis with BglI differentiated between infection by three different Trypanosome species (56, 25 and 19% for T. vivax, T. theileri and T. evansi, respectively) with good resolution on field samples from bovines and buffalo

Summary

Introduction

Animal Trypanosomiasis were estimated at US$6 million as a consequence of lost production, treatment, Animal Trypanosomiasis is a widely distributed disease that affects multiple species of mammals, including bovines and buffaloes. In Africa, this infection is caused by Trypanosoma congolense, T. vivax, T. prophylaxes and veterinary attention costs. This infection is endemic in the Atlantic Coast, Orinoquia, Cauca and Inter-Andin Valley or Magdalena Medio Regions In South America, the absence of the cyclic vector (tsetse fly) has limited the number of species involved in the domestic ruminant sickness, with only T. vivax and T. evansi being identified (Desquesnes et al, 2013). In South America, Colombia ranks third in livestock production, this economic activity being responsible for almost 5% of the National Gross Domestic Product. In this country, the economic losses due to

Results

Discussion

Conclusion