Bovine trypanosomiasis an emerging disease in Maranhão State-Brazil.
In South American countries, bovine trypanosomiasis is caused mainly by Trypanosoma vivax. Among the infected animals, bovines are considered more susceptible, and this susceptibility varies among breeds. To determine the occurrence of T. vivax in Maranhão State, Brazil, a total of 559 cattle blood samples were collected for molecular and parasitological studies. On São Luís Island, no parasites were observed in the parasitological exam; however, with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, three samples (1.06%) were positive. In four municipalities that compose the Pedreiras Basin, 3.39% of the animals were positive on the parasitological exam, and 6.21% of animals were positive by PCR. This finding demonstrates that PCR is more sensitive and confirms that the method is very useful in epidemiological surveys. A further interesting point is that molecular studies clearly define the differences in surface glycoproteins and antigenic variants.
1 Department of Pathology , RENORBIO, São Luís, Brazil .
Solange
S
de Araujo Melo
Ana Caroline Ericeira
AC
Barros
Francisco Borges
FB
Costa
Alcina Vieira
AV
de Carvalho Neta
Rita de Maria Nogueira
Rde M
de Candanedo Guerra
Ana Lucia
AL
Abreu-Silva
D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D002417:Cattle; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging; D017931:DNA Primers; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016689:Trypanosoma vivax / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary; D014354:Trypanosomiasis, Bovine / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*
D017931:DNA Primers