Purpose: This study was carried out to assess the prevalence of Trypanosoma evansi infection in naturally diseased Dromedary camels in Dammam, Eastern region of Saudi Arabia. The detection of Trypanosoma evansi was performed using the parasitological, serological, and molecular diagnosis and a comparison between such methods were analyzed. In addition, evaluation of therapeutic efficacy of selected antitrypanosomal drugs, cymelarsan and quinapyrmine (aquin-1.5), was trialed for treatment of diagnosed infected cases.
Methods: A total 350 randomly selected camels were evaluated using thin blood smear (TBS), RoTat1.2 PCR and CATT/T. evansi techniques.
Results: The total prevalence was 6.9%, 7.7%, and 32.8% by TBS, RoTat1.2 PCR and CATT/T. evansi techniques. respectively. Although PCR detect T. evansi in more samples than TBS, the agreement was good (K = 0.9). Among the CATT/T. evansi results, PCR detect T. evansi in 12 and 15 CATT positive and negative camels, respectively, with low agreement (Kappa = 0.1). The use of cymelarsan and quinapyramine sulfate in the treatment of naturally infected cases demonstrated a very efficient therapeutic response.
Conclusion: It was found that
- Comparing the CATT/T. evansi and PCR results, the positivity of CATT was higher than PCR detection, while the agreement was poor (K= 0.1).
- Cymelarsan presented with higher effectiveness (100%) than aquin-treated camels (83.3%).
- The use of cymelarsan and CATT are recommended for disease treatment and control.
Keywords: Trypanosoma evansi, RoTat 1.2VSG PCR, CATT/T. evansi, Cymelarsan