Genetic and parasitological identification of Trypanosoma evansi infecting cattle in South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract

Background and Aim: Sulawesi is an Indonesian island located within the Wallacea region that contains a distinctive mix of Asian and Australasian species. This distinctiveness extends to parasites, including Trypanosoma evansi, the cause of surra. Surra has non-specific clinical signs such as anemia, anorexia, weight loss, drop in milk production, and reproductive disorders which cause economic losses. Due to the trade of livestock, surra has spread in Indonesia from one island to another. The aim of this study was to investigate the trypanosomes infecting cattle in South Sulawesi, using internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequencing. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 whole blood samples were collected from cattle in Makassar, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. All samples were tested using conventional parasitological methods (CPT), namely, thin blood smear, buffy coat smears, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. Positive PCR results were sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed. Results: Only one of the 100 samples was found to be positive with microscopic observation; however, PCR analysis revealed that 3% (3/100) of samples were positive. Sequencing identified the positive samples as T. evansi, China isolate (KU552344), with a homology of 99%. Two out of three sequences showed variations in ITS2 region. Conclusion: Based on CPT and molecular analysis, T. evansi isolates from infected cattle in South Sulawesi demonstrate genetic diversity of ITS2 sequences.

Differences in Transporters Rather than Drug Targets Are the Principal Determinants of the Different Innate Sensitivities of Trypanosoma congolense and Trypanozoon Subgenus Trypanosomes to Diamidines and Melaminophenyl Arsenicals

“…In contrast, T. evansi has long been known to be an important veterinary infection and of all the pathogenic Trypanosoma spp. has the widest geographical distribution, from Africa to South America, Asia, Indonesia and the Philippines [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ].…”

Comparison of ITS-1 and TBR-1/2 primer sensitivity for the detection of Trypanosoma evansi local isolates in experimental rats using a polymerase chain reaction

“…Different results from Egypt have reported that no infection was detected in donkeys and horses; however, surra disease was recorded in camels, with a 31.4% prevalence rate [28]. In South Sulawesi, Indonesia, the prevalence rate of surra was 0% when detected using the conventional parasitological method; however, a 3% prevalence rate was detected in cattle using PCR as a molecular diagnostic method [3]. Therefore, a PCR method using more sensitive primers is required for early diagnostic testing.…”

“…Zangooie et al [14] reported zero positive results with microscopic examination of 113 blood samples, whereas seven samples were positive with a PCR method. A similar study in Indonesia [3] found only one positive sample out of 100 blood samples using the blood smear method.…”

“…Trypanosoma evansi is a major parasite globally known to cause trypanosomiasis or surra disease in cattle that occur throughout subtropical and tropical regions, including Indonesia [1][2][3]. T. evansi infection is mechanically transmitted to the host by several species of hematophagous flies.…”

Bioinformatics and expression analysis of the Xeroderma Pigmentosum complementation group C (XPC) of Trypanosoma evansi in Trypanosoma cruzi cells

“…Despite this disease was endemic in the 1990s in China, affecting animals like buffaloes, cattle, camels and dogs, there are few epidemiological studies conducted on this subject in the past decade (Zheng et al, 2019). "Surra" presents non-specific clinical signs such as weight loss, anorexia, anemia, drop in milk production and reproductive disorders, impacting on economic business (Setiawan et al, 2021). Although this parasite can affect most of the mammals, human infection is rare (Desquesnes et al, 2013;Wabale et al, 2015).…”