Termination of Pregnancy Induced by Trypanosoma evansi in Naturally Infected Camels

Trypanosomiasis in camel is a disease caused by the pathogenic protozoa –Trypanosoma evansi. This parasite has a wide distribution and economic importance in many parts of the world. Trypanosoma evansi is considered the most important and pathogenic hemo-parasite of camel promoting reproductive disorders. The present study was aimed at investigating the effect of natural infection in camel by Trypanosoma evansi in pregnancy, determining the pathogenesis of reproductive failure and confirming transplacental transmission. We collected blood samples from pregnant and non- pregnant camels from different parts of Rajasthan having history of repeated abortion. When possible, different tissues (liver, spleen, lungs, kidney, heart and brain) from aborted fetus were also collected and subjected to gene specific PCR amplification. Clinical examination, determination of parasitemia, serum biochemistry (albumin, total protein and glucose) and estimation of haemoglobin were performed. Factors possibly involved with the reproductive failure included high parasitemia, fever, low Hb%, serum glucose and total protein. Hepatitis, pericarditis, and encephalitis were observed in the aborted fetuses. The presence of T. evansi DNA in the tissues from the fetuses confirms the transplacental transmission of the parasite. The overall findings suggest the involvement of the parasite in the etiopathogenesis of reproductive failure in camel.