Clinical disease associated with Trypanosoma theileri infection in a calf in Ireland.
A four-month-old calf had a clinical history of pyrexia, anaemia, weight loss and behavioural abnormality. Clinical examination revealed evidence of regenerative anaemia and a lymphocytosis which was characterised by a relatively large B cell population. The calf deteriorated clinically while under observation and its prescapular and prefemoral lymph nodes became enlarged. Examination of a blood smear revealed the presence of a large number of circulating Trypanasoma theileri. Serological examination showed the presence of the invariant, stage-specific, trypanosome surface antigen, ISG70 and antibodies against ISG70. ISG70 was first identified in the bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei and has not previously been found in T theileri. Clinical recovery was associated with an increase in packed cell volume, a decrease in the levels of circulating anti-ISG70 antibodies and the complete disappearance of circulating ISG70.
Doherty
M L
ML
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Ballsbridge, Ireland.
Windle
H
H
Voorheis
H P
HP
Larkin
H
H
Casey
M
M
Clery
D
D
Murray
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D002417:Cattle; D007494:Ireland; D014345:Trypanosoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014354:Trypanosomiasis, Bovine / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan