Abstract
This study aimed to identify trypanosomes infecting cattle in Malawi in order to understand the importance of cattle in the transmission dynamics of Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) and Animal African Trypanosomosis (AAT). A total of 446 DNA samples from cattle blood from three regions of Malawi were screened for African trypanosomes by ITS1 PCR. The obtained amplicons were sequenced using a portable next-generation sequencer, MinION, for validation. Comparison of the results from ITS1 PCR and MinION sequencing showed that combining the two methods provided more accurate species identification than ITS1 PCR alone. Further PCR screening targeting the serum resistance-associated (SRA) gene was conducted to detect Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. Trypanosoma congolense was the most prevalent Trypanosoma sp., which was found in Nkhotakota (10.8%; 20 of 185), followed by Kasungu (2.5%; 5 of 199). Of note, the prevalence of T. b. rhodesiense detected by SRA PCR was high in Kasungu and Nkhotakota showing 9.5% (19 of 199) and 2.7% (5 of 185), respectively. We report the presence of animal African trypanosomes and T. b. rhodesiense from cattle at the human–livestock–wildlife interface for the first time in Malawi. Our results confirmed that animal trypanosomes are important causes of anemia in cattle and that cattle are potential reservoirs for human African trypanosomiasis in Malawi.
Highlights
African trypanosomiasis is caused by protozoan parasites of Trypanosoma spp. and is mainly transmitted by tsetse flies [52]
We identified 21 amplicons with a single band size of 620–700 bp, indicating a single T. congolense infection; 9 amplicons with a single band size of 480 bp, indicating a single Trypanozoon infection; 9 amplicons with a single band size of 250 bp, indicating a single T. vivax or T. godfreyi infection; and 2 amplicons with a single band size of 350 bp, indicating a single T. theileri infection
For T. theileri, two samples were positive in both ITS1 PCR and the MinION system
Summary
African trypanosomiasis is caused by protozoan parasites of Trypanosoma spp. and is mainly transmitted by tsetse flies [52]. This disease is a major concern in sub-Saharan Africa, with detrimental effects on both human and animal health and causing significant losses to affected countries [52]. Animal African trypanosomiasis (AAT) is caused by T. congolense, T. vivax, and T. brucei brucei [50]. Infection in domestic animals is usually severe, unlike in wildlife, where it is usually nonpathogenic [13]. AAT affects domestic animals, including cattle, goats, sheep, and pigs, and its pathogenicity differs according to the host species [13, 50]. Unlike T. congolense and T. brucei, which are transmitted by tsetse flies, T. vivax can be transmitted mechanically by other hematophagous flies; as a result, it has a broader geographical distribution [44]
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