DOI: 10.1515/ap-2016-0043 © W. Stefański Institute of Parasitology, PAS Acta Parasitologica, 2016, 61(2), 329–336; ISSN 1230-2821 Vertical transmission of Trypanosoma evansi in dromedary camels and studies on fetal pathology, diagnosis and treatment Shirish D. Narnaware*, Samar K. Ghorui, Sanjay Kumar and Nitin V. Patil ICAR National Research Centre on Camel, Post Box 07, Jorbeer, Bikaner, Rajasthan 334001, India Abstract In the present study, a total of 14 (73.68%) cases of abortions and two (100%) cases of still births were detected positive for Trypanosoma evansi infection by wet and dry blood smear examination and fetal tissue PCR in camels of an organized farm. The abortions in infected dams were recorded from 8 to 11.5 month of gestation, however majority occurred during 9 th to 10 th month. The important laboratorial findings in infected dams were anemia, hypoglycemia, hyperproteinemia and leukocytosis. At necropsy the T. evansi infected aborted and still born fetuses showed subcutaneous edema, presence of moderate amount of dark red hemolysed blood in thoracic and abdominal cavity, bronchopneumonia, hepatic necrosis and acute congestion in all vital organs. Microscopically, there was severe congestion, thickening of bronchial and alveolar wall and mononuclear infiltration in the fetal lung, necrotic and degenerative changes in the liver, nephritis along with severe congestion and tubular necrosis in the kidneys and necrotic and degenerative changes and congestion of capillaries in the brain. The T. evansi DNA was detected by PCR from blood, lung, spleen, liver, kidney and brain of all the infected aborted and still born fetuses. The results of the study indicated that T. evansi can cross placental barrier and cause pathological events in the fetus resulting into abortion or still birth in pregnant camels. Keywords Abortion, camel, pathology, transplacental transmission, Trypanosoma evansi Introduction Camel trypanosomosis or surra is an important arthropod borne disease caused by Trypanosoma evansi, and is the most important single cause of morbidity and mortality in camels in India and worldwide (Singh et al. 2004; Enwezor and Sackey 2005; Desquesnes et al. 2013). Trypanosomosis in camels may occur in both acute and chronic forms, but generally, the chronic form is more common (Gutierrez et al. 2005). The disease in camels causes considerable economic losses due to progressive anemia, parasitaemia, fever, marked depression, dullness, loss of condition, icterus, sub- cutaneous edema, neurological abnormalities, abortion in pregnant animals and often rapid death (Elhaig et al. 2013). Mechanical transmission by biting flies (Tabanus spp. and Stomoxys spp.) is the most important mode of transmission of T. evansi in camels as well as in other livestock (Desquesnes et al. 2013). The disease can be managed or re- duced but difficult to be eradicated due to mechanical trans- mission by vector insects. Since limited drugs are available for treatment of camel trypanosomosis, there is an emerging problem of drug unresponsiveness (Enwezor and Sackey 2005). The anti-trypanocidal drugs are more effective when the parasite is in the blood, but when it is in the peripheral tissue or extravascular spaces, the efficacy of drug decreases (Desquesnes et al. 2013). Regarding the reproduction, abortions, premature births and an inability to feed the young have been described in camels, which greatly reduce reproductive potential in af- fected herds (Yagil 1982; Gutierrez et al. 2005). Despite the evidence of the negative effect of trypanosomosis on the re- production of camels, the mechanism responsible for the re- productive disturbs is not fully understood and detailed clinico-pathological studies are also lacking (Gutierrez et al. 2005). In the present study, the pathological and diagnostic studies were conducted in pregnant camels and their fetuses during an outbreak of abortions and still births associated with natural infection of T. evansi. *Corresponding author: sdnarnaware@nrccamel.res.in Unauthenticated Download Date | 4/22/16 9:39 AM