Trypanosomiasis in Animals

WILKOWSKY S. E

Merck Veterinary Manual

Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp

Lugar: New Jersey; Año: 2022; p. 1 - 7

Pathogenic animal trypanosomes affecting domestic animals are a major cause of ill-health and death. These pathogens represent a major constraint to economic development in Africa and their negative impact is increasing in South America and Asia.The key issues surrounding the main economically important animal trypanosome species and the diseases they cause in farm animals and pets are presented in this chapter including biology, structure, host-parasite interaction and immune-evasion mechanisms. In spite of the fact that many biochemical and molecular aspects of these pathogens have been clearly established, effective control of the diseases they cause has proven unsatisfactory. Control of trypanosomiasis in animals involves disease monitoring and the use of curative and prophylactic trypanocidal drugs although drug-resistance is becoming increasingly common. The available and environmentally acceptable vector control tactics are expensive and re-infestation usually occurs. Meanwhile vaccines against animal trypanosomes are not available, trypanotolerance, the innate ability of certain livestock breeds to tolerate african trypanosomes and remain productive, has been described as an economical and sustainable option for combating these parasites. Effective control of the great economic burden of trypanosomiasis to developing countries will be accomplished only by the coordinated international support towards better vector control programmes and new and safer chemotherapeutic drugs.