Haematocrit centrifugation technique for the diagnosis of bovine trypanosomiasis

Abstract

The reliability of the haematocrit centrifugation technique (HCT) was compared to the wet film, the thin and thick stained smears and the lymph node aspirate examination techniques in the diagnosis of bovine trypanosomiasis. Blood samples from cattle naturally as well as experimentally infected with T. vivax were used. In the experimental infection, HCT and thick blood smears were more efficient than the wet blood films, thin blood smears and lymph node aspirations in detecting the infection. In 753 field samples, 16 positive cases were detected by HCT. It was estimated that 62.5–75.0% of positive samples were not detected by using the wet or the thin films alone. Despite the relative unreliability of most of the methods tested, the Woo technique showed significant difference in relationship to the other techniques evaluated. It could be recommended, in combination with thick and thin films, for the diagnosis of trypanosomiasis in cattle.