Camel Trypanosomiasis and Its Current Status in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Camel is comparatively less susceptible to many of the devastating diseases that affect other livestock species, such as rinderpest, contagious pleuropneumonia and foot and mouth disease but yet they are affected by many other diseases. The most important disease of camel is trypanosomiasis, vector born protozoal disease caused by Trypanosoma evansi parasite whith wide distribution throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world.the aim of this manuscript is to review on available articles on camel trypanosomiasis focusing on current status of it in Ethiopia. Camel trypanosomiasis causes progressive anaemia, depression, dullness, loss of condition and often rapid death. Serology is a preferable diagnostic technique while suramin, diminazene aceturate, melarsomine and quinapyramine are drugs of choice for treatment. But due to drug resistance of the agent control of vectors transmitting the parasite is more important. Preveously, trypanosomiasis caused T.evansi were only a disesse of animals but its reported that frist case of T.evansi is confirmed in human. Furthermore, T.evansi type B that so far only isolated from camel in Kenya is recently confirmed in Ethiopia. Beside, causing great economic losses T.evansi is recently emerging as zoonotic disease and unexpected new strains are being isolated from previosly free areas. Therefore, routine epidemiological and biochemical studies should be performed to design and implement appropriate intervention measures.

Keywords: Camel trypanosomiasis, Trypanosoma evansi, Surra, Camel