RESUMEN
Extensive research has been carried out in Eastern Africa for animal reservoirs of both visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis. The domestic dog has been the only domestic animal so far implicated as a possible reservoir for visceral leishmaniasis. For cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania aethiopica, the hyrax and the giant rat are the proven reservoirs of the disease while several species of rodents have been demonstrated to harbor L. major. Recent studies conducted in domestic animals in West Pokot led to the first isolation of leishmanial parasites from a domestic goat, a close associate of man in the vast endemic leishmaniasis foci. Consequent encounter of a clinical case of the disease is the basis for this paper. It is the first autochthonous case in Eastern Africa. The goat originated from the Western escarpments of the Rift Valley which are known to harbor L. aethiopica. Clinical signs included lesions, indurations, and enlargement of lymph nodes. Parasitological and pathological investigations revealed amastigotes in various tissues. Cultures of the affected tissues produced promastigotes.
Asunto(s)
Reservorios de Enfermedades , Cabras/parasitología , Leishmaniasis/veterinaria , Animales , Cricetinae , Kenia , Leishmaniasis/patología , Mesocricetus , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos BALB CRESUMEN
Thirty-one calves born into five Maasai zebu cattle herds over a period of 1 month in the Trans-Mara Division of Kenya, endemic for theileriosis, were recruited for an intensive study of theileriosis. No calves up to 6 months of age died but all developed Theileria infections as judged by slide examination and serology. Parasitosis by T. mutans schizonts in lymph node smears was usually higher than that of T. parva. The T. mutans schizonts usually occurred at an earlier age but persisted at a patent level for a shorter time than those of T. parva. Serological findings using the indirect fluorescent antibody test confirmed the parasitological findings. It was evident that colostral transfer of Theileria antibodies was frequent. Theileria piroplasm parasitaemia had developed in all calves by 111 days of age. The earlier parasitosis by T. mutans reflected the higher infection rates in Amblyomma spp. than in Rhipicephalus appendiculatus. The mean number of R. appendiculatus on the ears of calves during the observations was 9.1 adults and 1.5 nymphs. Clinical episodes of T. mutans and T. parva infection were associated with febrile responses, enlarged lymph nodes, anaemia and other symptoms and about 80% of calves had poor weight gains or weight losses during either clinical infection. It would appear that theileriosis is one of the most important factors in the stunting of calf development in the area.
Asunto(s)
Theileriosis/epidemiología , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/veterinaria , Anaplasmosis/epidemiología , Animales , Anticuerpos/análisis , Apicomplexa/inmunología , Apicomplexa/aislamiento & purificación , Babesiosis/epidemiología , Bovinos , Enfermedades de los Bovinos/epidemiología , Femenino , Técnica del Anticuerpo Fluorescente , Inmunidad Materno-Adquirida , Kenia , Ganglios Linfáticos/patología , Masculino , Theileriosis/inmunología , Theileriosis/parasitología , Theileriosis/patología , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/complicaciones , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/parasitología , Garrapatas/parasitología , Tripanosomiasis Bovina/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
The complement fixation test was applied to assess antibody responses in cattle infected with T. brucei, T. congolense, and T. vivax which had been treated and re-infected. After the first infection, the specificity of the results was low in T. congolense, fair in T. brucei, and high in T. vivax infected animals. After re-infection with the same trypanosoma species as used for previous infections, the specificity of CF results was high in all cases. After a foregoing T. vivax infection, specific titres of T. congolense and to a lesser degree of T. brucei infections were frequently masked by residual T. vivax titres. After treatment of trypanosoma-infected cattle the fasted drop of CF antibody titres occurred in T. congolense cases, followed by T. brucei infections. T. vivax titres persisted over prolonged periods.