Original Research

Seroprevalence and risk factors for Trypanosoma evansi, the causative agent of surra, in the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) population in Southeastern Algeria

Mohammed H. Benaissa, Nora Mimoune, Younes Bentria, Tahar Kernif, Abdelaziz Boukhelkhal, Curtis R. Youngs, Rachid Kaidi, Bernard Faye, Youcef Halis
Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research | Vol 87, No 1 | a1891 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ojvr.v87i1.1891 | © 2020 Mohammed H. Benaissa, Nora Mimoune, Younes Bentria, Tahar Kernif, Abdelaziz Boukhelkhal, Curtis R. Youngs, Rachid Kaidi, Bernard Faye, Youcef Halis | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 21 June 2020 | Published: 21 December 2020

About the author(s)

Mohammed H. Benaissa, Scientific and Technical Research Centre for Arid Areas (CRSTRA), Biophysical Station, Nezla, Touggourt, Algeria
Nora Mimoune, National High School of Veterinary Medicine, Bab-Ezzouar, Algiers, Algeria
Younes Bentria, Scientific and Technical Research Centre for Arid Areas (CRSTRA), Biophysical Station, Nezla, Touggourt, Algeria
Tahar Kernif, Laboratoire d’Eco-épidémiologie Parasitaire et Génétique des Populations, Institut Pasteur d’Algérie, Algiers, Algeria
Abdelaziz Boukhelkhal, Scientific and Technical Research Centre for Arid Areas (CRSTRA), Biophysical Station, Nezla, Touggourt, Algeria
Curtis R. Youngs, Animal Science Department, Iowa State University, Ames, United States of America
Rachid Kaidi, Institute of Veterinary Sciences, LBRA, University of Blida, Soumaa, Blida, Algeria
Bernard Faye, UMR SELMET, CIRAD-ES, Montpellier, France
Youcef Halis, Scientific and Technical Research Centre for Arid Areas (CRSTRA), Biophysical Station, Nezla, Touggourt, Algeria

Abstract

Surra, caused by Trypanosoma evansi, is a re-emerging animal trypanosomosis, which is of special concern for camel-rearing regions of Africa and Asia. Surra decreases milk yield, lessens animal body condition score and reduces market value of exported animals resulting in substantial economic losses. A cross-sectional seroprevalence study of dromedary camels was conducted in Algeria, and major risk factors associated with infection were identified by collecting data on animal characteristics and herd management practices. The seroprevalence of T. evansi infection was determined in sera of 865 camels from 82 herds located in eastern Algeria using an antibody test (card agglutination test for Trypanosomiasis – CATT/T. evansi). Individual and herd seroprevalence were 49.5% and 73.2%, respectively, indicating substantial exposure of camels to T. evansi in the four districts studied. Five significant risk factors for T. evansi hemoparasite infection were identified: geographical area, herd size, husbandry system, accessibility to natural water sources and type of watering. There was no association between breed, sex or age with T. evansi infection. Results of this study provide baseline information that will be useful for launching control programmes in the region and potentially elsewhere.

Keywords

seroprevalence; Trypanosoma evansi; Camelus dromedarius; camels; Algeria

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Crossref Citations

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