Molecular epidemiology of Animal African Trypanosomosis in southwest Burkina Faso

Background: Animal African Trypanosomosis (AAT) is a parasitic disease of livestock that has a major socio-economic impact in the affected areas. It is caused by several species of uniflagellate extracellular protists of the genus Trypanosoma mainly transmitted by tsetse flies: T. congolense, T. vivax and T. brucei brucei . In Burkina Faso, AAT hampers the proper economic development of the southwestern part of the country, which is yet the best watered area particularly conducive to agriculture and animal production. It was therefore important to investigate the extend of the infection in order to better control the disease. The objective of the present study was to assess the prevalence of trypanosome infections and collect data on the presence of tsetse flies. Methods: Buffy coat, Trypanosoma species-specific PCR, Indirect ELISA Trypanosoma sp and trypanolysis techniques were used on 1898 samples collected. An entomological survey was also carried out. Results: The parasitological prevalence of AAT was 1.1%, and all observed parasites were T. vivax . In contrast, the molecular prevalence was 23%, of which T. vivax was predominant (89%) followed by T. congolense (12%) and T. brucei s.l. (7.3%) with a sizable proportion as mixed infections (9.1%). T. brucei gambiense, responsible of sleeping sickness in humans, was not detected. The serological prevalence reached 49%. Once again T. vivax predominated (86.2%), but followed by T. brucei (9.6%) and T. congolense (4.2%), while 34.6% of positive samples tested positive for at least two trypanosome species. Seven samples, from six cattle and one pig, were found positive by trypanolysis. The density per trap of Glossina tachinoides and G. palpalis gambiensis was about three flies. Conclusions/Significance: Overall, our study showed a high prevalence of trypanosome infection in the area, pointing out an ongoing inadequacy of control measures.

Introduction pages

Notulae Scientia Biologicae (http://www.notulaebiologicae.ro), Issue 4, Volume 13, 2021: The papers published in this issue represent interesting novelties in different topics of life science. Among the exciting researches or reviews, we invite readers to find news about: Haemato-biochemical alterations and acute toxicity study of hydro-methanol root extract of Anacardium occidentale in cockerels; Diversity of butterflies (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India; Molecular detection of Trypanosoma species and haematological alterations in four trypanosome-infected Nigerian horses; Cryopreservation of aromatic ginger Kaempferia galanga L. by encapsulation-dehydration; Comparative study of some physicochemical and biological properties of effect host species variation on the relationship Saharan parasitic plant Cistanche violaceae (Desf.) Beck.; Comparative leaf anatomy of ten Nepenthes L. species (Nepenthaceae) from Peninsular Malaysia; Seed germination response of Indian wild pear (Pyrus pashia) to gibberellic acid treatment and cold storage; Molecular and morphological characterization of Globodera rostochiensis (Wollenweber, 1923) Skarbilovich, 1959 from Egypt.

Study on Prevalence of Trypanosomosis in Cattle of Sodo Zuriya District, Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Background. Trypanosomosis is a significant impediment to Ethiopia’s livestock and farm production, adding adversely to the overall growth of agriculture in general and the nation’s food self-reliance efforts in particular. Methods. Cross-sectional research was performed on the prevalence of trypanosomosis in cattle and the distinction of Trypanosoma species and potential factors in six selected provinces of the Sodo zuriya district in southern Ethiopia. Blood samples from the ear vein of 400 local and exotic cattle species were taken randomly. A hematocrit reader was used after centrifugation at 12,000 rpm for a five-minute assessment of anemic conditions of animals, and the anemia of the thin blood spraying and buffy coat procedure was tested to assess the incidence, detection, and packaging of Trypanosoma and the cell volume of each sampled animal. Results. Accordingly, twenty cattle were positive for trypanosomosis, with an overall proportion of 5.0%. From this overall prevalence, Trypanosoma congolense (3.3%) and Trypanosoma vivax (1.8%) were the two common Trypanosoma species in this study. The highest and the lowest prevalence of trypanosomes occurred in Guttuto Larena (35%) and Dalbo Wogane (0.00%), respectively. Age-wise prevalence revealed that young adults (45%) were the most affected, followed by old adults (35%) and adults (20%). Cattle with poor body condition scores (65%) were the most affected, followed by cattle with medium (30%) and good (5%) body condition scores, and this was found to be statistically significant ( p ≤ 0.002 ). In addition, the variation in packed cell volume (PCV) between infected and noninfected cattle was significantly different ( p ≤ 0.0001 ). Conclusion. Thus, the present study revealed the predominance of bovine trypanosomosis in the region and had a significant effect on body condition and anemia growth. The government and public should then collaborate in parasite-observed areas on the disease’s management and prevention efforts in an environmentally sustainable way.

Molecular detection of Trypanosoma species and haematological alterations in four trypanosome-infected Nigerian horses

Trypanosomes cause anaemia and are responsible for widespread morbidity and mortality particularly in imported breeds of animals found in sub-tropical and tropical parts of the world. Light microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to detect trypanosomes in naturally infected Nigerian crossbred horses at Obollo-Afor abattoir, Udenu Local Government Area, Enugu State Nigeria. Blood was collected via the jugular outflow from a total of 200 horses of varying ages and either sex. Conventional procedures were followed during the PCR assay, parasite identification in wet mount, Leishman-stained thin blood and buffy coat smears on glass slides. Light microscopy revealed Trypanosoma species with an elongated, streamlined and tapered body, highly suggestive of T. brucei brucei or its subspecies T. evansi or T. equiperdum. PCR assay produced the expected fragment size of 700 bp specific for ITS-1 region of the 18SrRNA gene of Trypanosoma species in 4 (2%) of 200 blood samples against the routine blood and buffy coat smear examination, which revealed trypanosomes in 3 (1.5%) out of 200 blood samples. Sex and age were not significantly (p>0.05) associated with the trypanosome infection. One of the Trypanosoma infected anaemic horses had microcytic normochromic anaemia, high erythrocyte sedimentation rate and normal leukocyte count, while one of the Trypanosoma species infected non-anaemic horses had erythrocytic parameters and ESR values that are within the reference range, with leukocytosis. It was concluded that the prevalence of equine trypanosomosis was very low, and it’s characterized by mild to moderate anaemia in clinical cases.

Xenomonitoring of trypanosome infectivity in Tse tse flies from Kagarko Local Government Area, Kaduna State Nigeria

Trypanosomiasis is a re-emerging neglected tropical disease, afflicting domestic, wild animals and humans. In this study, the tsetse fly infectivity and species composition of Trypanosoma species were determined in Kagarko Local Government Area, Kaduna State Nigeria using entomological protocol. The tsetse flies were sampled using standard biconical traps and the flies collected were dissected for trypanosome using microscopy as well as expression of tsetse antigen 5 (TAg 5) using molecular tools. Forty seven (47) tsetse flies were collected over a period of four months, of which 13 (34.21%) were infected with Trypanosoma spp. The species of trypanosome identified include T. vivax 7(53.85%), T. congolense 5(38.46%) and T. brucei 1(7.69%), while expression of TAg 5 was observed in four of the examined flies. The presence of the flies with trypanosome of veterinary and medical importance demonstrate the risk of transmission of trypanosomiasis in the study area.

Vector-borne haemoparasitic and rickettsial diseases of dogs in South west, Nigeria: An eleven years retrospective study

Adequate knowledge of the occurrence and seasonal variation in the distribution of parasitic and rickettsial diseases affecting dogs is required for formulation of effective disease control measures. Hence, this study assessed the prevalence of vector borne haemoparasites and rickettsial of dogs between 2009 and 2019. Clinical records of dogs presented for clinical examination and confirmed by microscopic screening of their blood were assessed and analysed statistically. Overall, 1483 dogs were presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH). This included 641 (43.2%) male, 842 (56.8%) female, 967 (65.2%) young and 516 (34.8%) adult dogs. 33 (2.2%) and 1450 (97.8%) were mongrel and exotic breeds, respectively. 511 (34.5%) were infected with either haemoparasites or rickettsial. This comprised 34.0% (218/641) and 34.8% (293/842) male and female, 317 (32.8%) and 194 (37.6%) young and adult dogs, respectively. There was no significant (p =0.05) difference in the prevalence among sexes and age groups. Seasonal prevalence was 35.88% (315/878) and 32.40% (196/605) in wet and dry seasons, respectively. Six haemoparasites/rickettsials were reported from 511 dogs, these included single infections of Babesia species 477 (93.5%), Ehrlichia species 8 (1.6%), Hepatozoon canis 2(0.39%), Mycoplasma haemocanis 7 (1.4%), Trypanosoma species 16 (3.1%) and mixed infection of Babesia and Hepatozoon canis 1 (0.2%). The mean PCV values were significantly (t = 2.45; P = 0.014) different between infected and non-infected dogs. This study suggests that Babesia spp. isthe most prevalentin the dogs presented to the VTH in the study area and the detection of Trypanosoma spp. in some dogssuggeststhat dogs could be reservoir of trypanosomesfor both animals and human. Keywords: Dogs, haemoparasites, prevalence, retrospective-study

Autochthonous Trypanosoma spp. in European Mammals: A Brief Journey amongst the Neglected Trypanosomes

The genus Trypanosoma includes flagellated protozoa belonging to the family Trypanosomatidae (Euglenozoa, Kinetoplastida) that can infect humans and several animal species. The most studied species are those causing severe human pathology, such as Chagas disease in South and Central America, and the human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), or infections highly affecting animal health, such as nagana in Africa and surra with a wider geographical distribution. The presence of these Trypanosoma species in Europe has been thus far linked only to travel/immigration history of the human patients or introduction of infected animals. On the contrary, little is known about the epidemiological status of trypanosomes endemically infecting mammals in Europe, such as Trypanosomatheileri in ruminants and Trypanosomalewisi in rodents and other sporadically reported species. This brief review provides an updated collection of scientific data on the presence of autochthonous Trypanosoma spp. in mammals on the European territory, in order to support epidemiological and diagnostic studies on Trypanosomatid parasites.

Molecular Detection of Trypanosoma species in Cattle Slaughtered at Zango and Yantukwane Abattoirs in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria

African animal trypanosomoses constitute the most important vector-borne cattle diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa. A total of170 blood samples were collected from cattle in Zango abattoir and Yantukwane abattoir in Zaria, Kaduna State. BloodSamples collected were examined for the presence of trypanosomes using the buffy coat technique and Giemsa thin bloodsmears which shows a single 1(0.58%; 1/170) infection using microscope. Positive and negative samples were subjected tofurther analysis using nested PCR reaction with nested primers for detection of trypanosomes, and 9 of the samples showedpositive bands after gel electrophoresis at 998bp (lane 1-9) indicating the presence of Trypanosoma theileri. Percentage, Chisquareand Odds ratio were used to analyse the data. A total of 9(5.29%; 9/170) animals were found infected with the parasiteout of which 4(4.65%; 4/85) were found in Zango abattoir, while 5 (5.95%) were found in Yantukwane abattoir. The resultswere not statistically (P>0.05) location dependent. The infection in male (6.45%) cattle was higher than the female (4.63%)with no infection in young animals. No infection was observed in Sokoto Gudali breed, while White Fulani breed had 5.77%.From this study, it is clear that trypanosomosis is still a major obstacle to livestock production in Zaria and its Environs andthe incidence is majorly in adult cattle. In addition, nested PCR reaction showed more sensitivity than microscopy. Hence,there is need for proper diagnosis and treatment of animals to promote more beef and milk production for humanconsumption. Further study is necessary to determine the pathogenicity of T. theileri in other domestic animals. Keywords: Trypanosomosis, White Fulani, Sokoto Gudali, breed, infection.

Trypanocidal Mechanism of Action and in silico Studies of p-Coumaric Acid Derivatives

Trypanosoma species are responsible for chronic and systemic infections in millions of people around the world, compromising life quality, and family and government budgets. This group of diseases is classified as neglected and causes thousands of deaths each year. In the present study, the trypanocidal effect of a set of 12 ester derivatives of the p-coumaric acid was tested. Of the test derivatives, pentyl p-coumarate (7) (5.16 ± 1.28 μM; 61.63 ± 28.59 μM) presented the best respective trypanocidal activities against both epimastigote and trypomastigote forms. Flow cytometry analysis revealed an increase in the percentage of 7-AAD labeled cells, an increase in reactive oxygen species, and a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential; indicating cell death by necrosis. This mechanism was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, noting the loss of cellular integrity. Molecular docking data indicated that of the chemical compounds tested, compound 7 potentially acts through two mechanisms of action, whether by links with aldo-keto reductases (AKR) or by comprising cruzain (CZ) which is one of the key Trypanosoma cruzi development enzymes. The results indicate that for both enzymes, van der Waals interactions between ligand and receptors favor binding and hydrophobic interactions with the phenolic and aliphatic parts of the ligand. The study demonstrates that p-coumarate derivatives are promising molecules for developing new prototypes with antiprotozoal activity.