Abstract
ABSTRACT: The prevalence of trypanosomiasis in sheep is of worldwide concern. It is a hemoparasitic disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma (T) spp., andthe biological cycle of transmission involves susceptible hosts and certain hematophagous flies, such as Tabanids and Stomoxys. The objective of this study was to determine the presence of Trypanosomasp. in sheep (Ovisaries). Through an applied, descriptive-prospective-cross-sectional qualitative study conducted between October 1, 2018, and January 29, 2019, blood samples extracted from the jugular vein were analyzed by the blood smear method using 2 Romanowsky staining techniques (Giemsa and Diff-Quick). Animals studied were between ages of 3 and 10 years, coming from 3 farms in the city of Colimes (Ecuador). Of 100 sampled and processed animals, 2 (2%) were positive for Trypanosoma sp., constituting the first report of this hemoparasite in sheep in Ecuador, and 1 case of Babesia spp. (1%) and 4 cases of Anaplasma marginale (4%) were also identified. However, none of these cases presented symptomatology of any hemotropic-parasitic disease. Subsequently, the positive animals were dewormed.The presence of these parasites wasconfirmedat the study site and,thus, could become a serious animal health problem.
Highlights
The domestic sheep (Ovisaries) in Ecuador is an animal 90% adapted to extreme climate and management conditions, and its rearing is underexploited in the llanuras and sub-plains of high elevation mountains that in some cases are abandoned and others poorly used
Coello-Peralta et al There are 3 species of trypanosomes of veterinary importance in South America: Trypanosoma evansi, the causative agent of surra, transmitted mechanically by blood-sucking insects such as tabanids; T. vivax, mechanically transmitted by some hematophagous diptera such as Tabanids and/or Stomoxys; and T. equiperdum, a tissue parasite adapted for sexual transmission and the causative agent of dourine, a distinctive disease affecting only equines
Of the 100 samples processed by the 2 methods, 2 animals were positive for Trypanosoma sp., resulting in a prevalence of 2%
Summary
The domestic sheep (Ovisaries) in Ecuador is an animal 90% adapted to extreme climate and management conditions, and its rearing is underexploited in the llanuras (plains) and sub-plains of high elevation mountains that in some cases are abandoned and others poorly used. There is little information about the risk of animals contracting hemoparasitic diseases, such as trypanosomiasis, through domestic sheep breeding, representing a serious problem for the development of the livestock industry in Africa, Asia and Latin America (PARRA-GIMENEZ & REYNA-BELLO, 2019). Trypanosomiasis in sheep is caused by unicellular flagellar protozoa belonging to the family Trypanosomatids and the genus Trypanosoma; the latter includes many species that cause diseases in domestic and wild animals as well as humans (AREGAWI et al, 2019). V.51, n.1, Coello-Peralta et al. There are 3 species of trypanosomes of veterinary importance in South America: Trypanosoma evansi, the causative agent of surra, transmitted mechanically by blood-sucking insects such as tabanids; T. vivax, mechanically transmitted by some hematophagous diptera such as Tabanids and/or Stomoxys; and T. equiperdum, a tissue parasite adapted for sexual transmission and the causative agent of dourine, a distinctive disease affecting only equines
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