Porcine cerebralTrypanosoma brucei brucei trypanosomiasis

Abstract

This paper describes the investigation of a disease outbreak among 10 adult pigs in Nsukka, Anambra State, Nigeria. Prior to the investigation one sow died of the disease. Trypanosomes were later detected in the blood of two of the nine pigs subsequently investigated. All the pigs were then treated with deep intramuscular injection of 8 mg/kg diminazene aceturate (Berenil). Thirty six days after treatment a boar and a sow relapsed with signs similar to the ones shown previously. Further examination of their blood and faeces revealed nothing of parasitological significance. Following deteriorating condition and development of nervous signs the boar was salvaged while the sow died of the infection. Brain impression smears taken from both animals during postmortem examination revealed numerous trypanosome parasites identified by morphology and blood incubation infectivity test (BIIT) as Trypanosoma brucei brucei. The clinical and economic significance of the outbreak are discussed.

Disease burden affecting pig production in Nigeria: Review of current issues and challenges

“…The pigs also had coccidium, Oesophagostomum dentatum and Ascaris suum infections, making the outbreak very complicated and fatal. Outbreak of T. brucei infections in Nsukka, Anambra State, was fatal during relapse infection after diminazene aceturate treatment and was characterized by cerebral invasion of trypanosomes (Onah and Uzoukwu, 1991). Infection with T. brucei was more severe in pigs with decreasing dietary energy level (Fagbemi et al, 1990).…”

“…Vector control using screens, insecticides and bush clearing are part of a trypanosomosis control program (Fadiga et al, 2013). Multidrug resistance in the chemotherapy of trypanosomosis, which leads to treatment failures and relapse of infections, is an intractable challenge (Onah and Uzoukwu, 1991). In addition, the parts of Nigeria which could be transmitted to humans: influenza, trypanosomosis, brucellosis, eperythrozoonosis, larva migrans, cryptosporidiosis, balantidiasis, ancylostomosis, entamoebosis, teniasis, jigger fleas and mange.…”

Clinico-haematological manifestation of single and mixed <i>Trypanosome species</i> infection of pigs in Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) and Nasarawa State, Nigeria.

“…In pigs, extravascular clinical abnormalities (hyperemia and pilo-erection) in T. brucei single and mixed Trypanosoma species infection could result from the capability of T. brucei to pass out of the capillaries into the interstitial tissues and serous fluids of body cavities where they continue to multiply and damage tissues (Luckins et al, 1994). These observed clinical signs are at variation with the report of Onah (1991), who reported anaemia, emaciation and anestrus as the most important effects associated with porcine trypanosomosis. These variations in clinical outcomes could be as a result of concurrent infection associated with field studies or complex interaction between the host, parasite and environment (Akinbobola et al, 2023a, Akinbobola et al, 2023b.…”

Hematological changes associated with experimental infection with Trypanosomosis in pigs

“…Except in T. brucei infected group, WBC was restored to uninfected level at 42 days post treatment (Table 7). (Onah and Uzoukwu, 1991;Allan et al, 2011). However, this result is at disparity with the report of Omeke and Ugwu, (1991) on the relative severity of clinical signs caused by the different trypanosome species in pigs.…”

“…brucei is generally regarded as a cause of both sub clinical and chronic porcine trypanosomosis. It also causes natural outbreaks of fatal porcine trypanosomosis (Onah and Uzoukwu, 1991). The presence of trypanosome parasites in the blood and their invading nature produce numerous changes in the cellular and biochemical constituents of blood which together with the host's immune mechanism are presumably responsible for the symptoms of trypanosomosis in animals (Taiwo et al, 2003).…”