Abstract

Sero-epidemiology, therapeutic study and the risk factors associated with trypanosomiasis (Surra) in camels in district Jhang, Punjab, Pakistan

Authors: Jawad Zahoor, Muhammad Kashif, Amar Nasir, Muhammad Bakhsh, Aziz-ur-Rehman, Arbab Sikandar, Muhammad Waseem Nazar and Muhammad Rizwan

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.71081/cvj/2023.006

Abstract
Trypanosomiasis is one of the most pathogenic infections of livestock caused by several Trypanosoma species, causing severe economic losses and severe illness by affecting both animals and humans. The main objective of the present study was to determine the seroprevalence and the risk factors associated with trypanosomiasis in District Jhang, Punjab, Pakistan. For this purpose, blood samples were randomly collected from 200 camels. The questionnaires were used to collect data on risk factors associated with trypanosomiasis before the sample collection. All samples were initially screened by thin smear microscopy and Formol gel test. Later, these samples were further processed by ELISA. The seroprevalence detected by microscopy 22.5% (45/200), Formol-Gel test 37.7% (17/45), and ELISA 44.4% (20/45). The seroprevalence was higher in male camels as compared to females. The variance between the microscopy, the Formol- Gel test and the ELISA test is possibly due to the degradation of antibodies in the spotted samples held at ambient temperature for several weeks. Our study supports the use of antibody detection tests to determine "Surra" prevalence in camels rather than parasitological and molecular analysis. This study will help the higher authorities and researchers to take effective control measures against this disease.

Keywords: ELISA, Livestock, Microscopy, Seroprevalence, Trypanosomiasis