Sero-prevalence and Molecular Detection of Trypanosoma evansi in Camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Sokoto, North-West, Nigeria

Abstract

Camel Trypanosomosis (Surra), caused by Trypanosoma evansiis a serious problem in the camel-rearing regions of Nigeria. In the present  study, 150 camels slaughtered in Sokoto central abattoir were examined for the presence of antibodies and DNA of T. evansi using the  Card Agglutination Test (CAT) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) methods, respectively. Antibody and the DNA of T. evansi were  detected in 42 (28.0%) and 68 (45.3%) of the animals tested by the CAT and PCR, respectively. Higher prevalence was found among young  camels compared to the adults using CAT (33.3% vs 27.8%), while adults had higher prevalence than the young (46.5% vs 16.7%) using  PCR technique. Both the techniques recorded higher prevalence in males than females; CAT (28.3% vs 25.0%) and PCR (49.3% vs 0.0%).  The detection of T. evansi DNA was significantly associated with the age (p=0.001) and sex (p=0.002) of camels, but not for the serological  technique (p> 0.05). The detection of antibodies and DNA of T. evansi in camels in this study attest to the possibility of continuous  exposure of camels to infections. The role of Surra in camel production in Nigeria and the need for holistic control measures are   discussed.