title: Canine Trypanosoma evansi infection introduced into Germany.
abstract: A 9-year-old male Jack Russell Terrier with a history of travel to Thailand was presented with chronic lethargy, weight loss, unilateral anterior uveitis, pancytopenia, hyperglobulinemia, and proteinuria. Numerous trypomastigotes were found on a blood smear, and using molecular methods the parasite was identified as Trypanosoma evansi. After initial response to treatment, the dog experienced a relapse with central neurologic signs 88 days after initial presentation and died. Antibodies to T evansi were detected in both serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using a card agglutination test (CATT/T evansi), and PCR analysis of CSF for T evansi was positive. Findings at necropsy included marked non-purulent meningoencephalitis. Chronic infection with T evansi in a dog that returned to Germany following international travel highlights the risk associated with introduction of foreign animal diseases to Europe and the possibility of these infections becoming endemic. Detection of chronic infection and curative therapy of trypanosomiasis are challenging, and infection is usually fatal in the dog.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Small Animal Clinic, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany. m_defontis@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Myriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Defontis
authors.forename: Janina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Richartz
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Engelmann
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: Viktoria Maria
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Schwierk
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Büscher
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moritz
mesh_terms: D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000628:therapy; D004285:Dogs; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005858:Germany; D008297:Male; D010198:Pancytopenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D013498:Suramin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013785:Thailand; D014195:Travel; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014345:Trypanosoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014352:Trypanosomiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D014605:Uveitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D002227:Carbazoles; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents; D013498:Suramin; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; C007005:carprofen