First Molecular Study of Caprine Trypanosoma evansi Infection in Central India

Background: Diagnosis of Trypanosoma evansi among goat in field is still challenging due to scarce information on clinical manifestation and non availability of rapid reliable diagnostics. Molecular test such as PCR employed to diagnose the T. evansi with accuracy in both blood and tissues. Limited reports are available from different parts of the country on natural infection of T. evansi in goat. Mainly subclinical form of disease occurred in goats owing to low level of parasitaemia of T. evansi. Methods: A Jamunapari goat aged 1.5 years and weighing ~25 Kg was suffering from circling movement, pale conjunctiva and anorexia and was found positive for T. evansi by buffy coat examination and polymerase chain reaction. Diminazene aceturate was given intramuscularly as 7% water solution at a dose of 3.5 mg/kg b.wt. After 3 days, blood smear and buffy coat were negative for T. evansi and no band was found after running the product on 1.7% agarose gel stained with ethidium bromide. Result: The present study reveals first time report on caprine trypanosomosis from central India by conventional and PCR technique and placed on record. Hence, the goat should also be taken into consideration for control of trypanosomosis as goats are an important source of infection to other animals due to their reservoir nature for T. evansi.