Successful Clinical Management and Molecular Investigation of Trypanosomosis in a Wild Captured Leopard

Abstract

Background: Trypanosoma evansi is a widely prevalent trypanosomes of the Indian subcontinent and is widely documented in species like cattle, buffalo, horses, camel etc. In the wild, an array of animals like deers, jaguar, tigers, leopards, lions, foxes etc can be infected by the trypanosome. Trypanotolerance is an innate mechanism by which the wild animals harbour moderate infection without the development of clinical signs. Methods: The current report highlights the clinical management and molecular investigation of Trypanosomosis in a wild captured leopard. An adult male leopard, was found to exhibit partial inappetence with no other deviation from normal. Blood, serum and faecal investigations were carried out. A Polymerase Chain Reaction was carried out to gain molecular insights. The amplicon was purified and sequenced. The sequenced was submitted to NCBI after BLASTn analysis. Result: The blood smear revealed trypanosomosis while faecal examination revealed heavy infestation with Spirometra which was treated rationally. The animal showed an uneventful recovery after the treatment. The causative agent was identified to Trypanosoma evansi and was found to be identical to similar sequences reported from India and abroad by the phylogenetic analysis.