Canine trypanosomiasis: etiology of infection and implications for public health

Abstract

Canine trypanosomiasis, caused by protozoans of the genusTrypanosoma, is divided into two primary types: the American form (Chagas disease), due to Trypanosoma cruzi infection, and the African form (sleeping sickness or surra), provoked by Trypanosoma evansi. This disease was originally enzootic and affected only wild animals, including mammals and birds, which served as reservoirs. Later, it spread to domestic animals such as horses, cattle and dogs. The disease became a zoonosis when contact between rural inhabitants and naturalTrypanosoma foci occurred, due to ecological imbalances and increasing migration.Dogs are significantly involved in this context, because they are the main domestic animals and participate in the transmission and maintenance cycles of these parasites. This article reports etiological, epidemiological and public health aspects of canine trypanosomiasis, and the most important peculiarities of this zoonosis in dogs.

Comparative Haematological Changes in Rats Experimentally Infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei and Treated with Imidocarb Dipropionate and Diminazene Aceturate

“…The significant decreases in Pack Cell Volume (PCV) and hemoglobin concentration (Hb) signified some degree of blood loss in the infected groups. This corroborates previous work done in trypanosomosis in animals (Eloy and Lucheis, 2009;Ezeokonkwo et al, 2010;Nwoha and Anene, 2011a). A sufficient blood loss could result to anaemia which is one of the cardinal signs of trypanosomosis in animals (Sadun et al, 1973;Finelle, 1973;Ohaeri and Eluwa, 2011) and in humans (Woodruff et al, 1973) and clinically anaemia is presented by paleness of the mucous membrane (Nwoha and Anene, 2011b).…”

“…In trypanosomosis, matrix of factors may be contributory to the significant deficits in blood parameters observed in infected animals and these may include haemolysis as previously recorded by Jennings (1976). It may also result from hemorrhage due to mechanical damage to the parasitized erythrocytes (Eloy and Lucheis, 2009). Such damage is usually severe during peak of parasitaemia (Holmes, 1976).…”

Disease: A Hitherto Unexplored Constraint on the Spread of Dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) in Pre-Columbian South America

“…As well as being important to veterinarians and dog-owners, T. cruzi has attracted considerably wider attention since it also affects people, producing a form of trypanosomiasis known as Chagas disease. This currently affects some 16-18 million people in Central and South America, principally in rural and poorer urban areas (Eloy and Lucheis 2009), and is increasingly establishing itself in North America (Hotez et al 2013). Archaeological evidence recovered from artificially or naturally mummified human remains in the Atacama Desert (Aufderheide et al 2004), Brazil (Lima et al 2008), and Texas (Reinhard and Araújo 2015) demonstrates that it has infected humans for at least 9000 years.…”

Comparative mild, moderate and severe effects of Trypanosomiasis and Ancylostomiasis on the Haemogram of Local dog breeds

“…Diagnosis of trypanosomiasis was based on clinical signs and presence of T. congolense in wet mount of infected animals as described previously [9]. Diagnosis of ancylostomiasis was based on clinical signs and presence of A. caninum eggs in fecal samples.…”