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Seroprevalence and risk factors for Trypanosoma evansi, the causative agent of surra, in the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) population in Southeastern Algeria
Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research
  • Mohammed H. Benaissa, Scientific and Technical Research Centre for Arid Areas (CRSTRA)
  • Nora Mimoune, National High School of Veterinary Medicine
  • Younes Bentria, Scientific and Technical Research Centre for Arid Areas (CRSTRA)
  • Tahar Kernif, Institut Pasteur d’Algérie
  • Abdelaziz Boukhelkhal, Scientific and Technical Research Centre for Arid Areas (CRSTRA)
  • Curtis R. Youngs, Iowa State University
  • Rachid Kaidi, University of Blida
  • Bernard Faye, CIRAD-ES
  • Youcef Halis, Scientific and Technical Research Centre for Arid Areas (CRSTRA)
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
1-1-2020
DOI
10.4102/ojvr.v87i1.1891
Abstract

Surra, caused by Trypanosoma evansi, is a re-emerging animal trypanosomosis, which is of special concern for camel-rearing regions of Africa and Asia. Surra decreases milk yield, lessens animal body condition score and reduces market value of exported animals resulting in substantial economic losses. A cross-sectional seroprevalence study of dromedary camels was conducted in Algeria, and major risk factors associated with infection were identified by collecting data on animal characteristics and herd management practices. The seroprevalence of T. evansi infection was determined in sera of 865 camels from 82 herds located in eastern Algeria using an antibody test (card agglutination test for Trypanosomiasis – CATT/T. evansi). Individual and herd seroprevalence were 49.5% and 73.2%, respectively, indicating substantial exposure of camels to T. evansi in the four districts studied. Five significant risk factors for T. evansi hemoparasite infection were identified: geographical area, herd size, husbandry system, accessibility to natural water sources and type of watering. There was no association between breed, sex or age with T. evansi infection. Results of this study provide baseline information that will be useful for launching control programmes in the region and potentially elsewhere.

Comments

This article is published as Benaissa, M.H., Mimoune, N., Bentria, Y., Kernif, T., Boukhelkhal, A., Youngs, C.R. et al., 2020, ‘Seroprevalence and risk factors for Trypanosoma evansi, the causative agent of surra, in the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) population in Southeastern Algeria’, Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research 87(1), a1891. doi:10.4102/ojvr.v87i1.1891.

Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
Copyright Owner
The Authors
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Mohammed H. Benaissa, Nora Mimoune, Younes Bentria, Tahar Kernif, et al.. "Seroprevalence and risk factors for Trypanosoma evansi, the causative agent of surra, in the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) population in Southeastern Algeria" Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research Vol. 87 Iss. 1 (2020) p. a1891
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/curtis-youngs/27/