Veterinary Parasitology 90 (2000) 155–159 Short communication Camel trypanosomosis in the Canary Islands: assessment of seroprevalence and infection rates using the card agglutination test (CATT/T. evansi) and parasite detection tests C. Gutierrez a,* , M.C. Juste a , J.A. Corbera a , E. Magnus b , D. Verloo b , J.A. Montoya a a Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Veterinary Faculty, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35416 Las Palmas, Spain b Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium Received 20 July 1999; received in revised form 23 November 1999; accepted 25 January 2000 Abstract Trypanosomosis due to Trypanosoma evansi (surra) is a major enzootic disease of the dromedary camel. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to assess seroprevalence and infection rates in the Canary Islands using antibody(-card agglutination test-CATT/T. evansi) and parasite detection tests (micro-Haematocrit Centrifugation technique, Giemsa stained blood smears, microscopic exami- nation of lymph node aspirates and mouse inoculation). PCV was also determined. 745 dromedary camels (483 females and 262 males) were examined. Trypanosomes were detected in seven animals. 36 animals yielded CATT positive results while 709 animals were negative. All parasitologically positive animals were also CATT positive. Results showed a good correlation between CATT pos- itive and low PCV and a higher seroprevalence in older animals. Trypanocidal drugs have not been registered in Spain and, consequently, if vigilance is not exercised the prevalence could be increased in the future. ©2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Camel; Dromedary; Trypanosoma evansi; CATT 1. Introduction Trypanosomosis due to Trypanosoma evansi (surra) is a major enzootic disease of the dromedary camel (Gatt-Rutter, 1967). The disease has been reported in many countries * Corresponding author. Tel.: +34-92845-1115; fax: +34-92845-1114. E-mail address: carlosg@infovia.ulpgc.es (C. Gutierrez) 0304-4017/00/$ – see front matter ©2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. PII:S0304-4017(00)00225-9