Equine trypanosomosis: enigmas and diagnostic challenges

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Parasitology
• Infectious Diseases
• Animal Health

Background:

• Equine trypanosomosis encompasses diseases like dourine, nagana, and surra, caused by Trypanosoma species.
• Transmission occurs via tsetse flies, other biting insects, or sexual contact, with recent outbreaks in Europe highlighting importation risks.
• Control is hampered by a lack of vaccines, ineffective treatments for neurological stages, and diagnostic challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the limitations of current diagnostic methods for equine trypanosomosis.
• To emphasize the need for improved diagnostic tools in light of increasing global horse movement.
• To recommend research into more sensitive and specific diagnostic tests.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing knowledge on equine trypanosomosis epidemiology and diagnostics.
• Analysis of limitations in parasitological, serological, and molecular diagnostic techniques.
• Identification of specific diagnostic gaps, particularly for Trypanozoon subgenus taxa.

Main Results:

• Current diagnostics (parasitological, serological, molecular) lack sufficient sensitivity and/or specificity.
• Molecular tests struggle to differentiate within the Trypanozoon subgenus.
• Epidemiological data is often incomplete due to underreporting by endemic countries.

Conclusions:

• Accurate and reliable diagnostics are essential for managing equine trypanosomosis, especially with global horse movement.
• Development of highly sensitive and specific molecular and serological tests is urgently needed.
• While identifying the specific Trypanosoma taxon is ideal, it may not always be critical depending on treatment availability.