Molecular evidence of Trypanosoma evansi infection in Iranian dromedary camel herds

Trypanosoma evansi is a pathogenic African animal protozoan, affecting livestock and wild animals worldwide and Iran. The present study was carried out to detect the infection of T. evansi in one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius) of southeastern Iran. Over six months, a total numbers of 370 dromedary camels were randomly selected from three sub-areas located in southeastern Iran in 2015. Blood samples were taken from jugular vein and examined by using micro-hematocrit centrifugation (MHCT) and PCR techniques. Genomic DNA was extracted and PCR was performed to amplify a fragment of the mini-chromosome satellite DNA TBR1/2 of T. evansi. The overall prevalence was 31.35% (116/370). The highest T. evansi infection was significantly in adult camels (24.05%, 89/370) with chronic clinical signs (11.89%, 44/370). There was significant difference between prevalence and sex (9.46% male and 21.89% female). Only 19.19% (71 out of 370) of the infected camels were from the plain areas. The highest T. evansi infection rate was significantly recorded in the camels of north (19.19%, 71/370) part of the region. The molecular analysis was uncovered high level of infection with T. evansi in camel herds which can help to establish effective control programs in the region.