Therapeutic management of trypanosomosis in a dog

Trypanosoma evansi, the agent of surra is a widely distributed pathogenic animal trypanosome. Surra is a major disease in camels, equines and dogs, in which it can often be fatal in the absence of treatment. In the present study, blood sample of a male Labrador retriever dog of four years age at Meerut, Uttar Pradesh was examined. Wet blood film and stained blood smears showed large number of Trypanosoma evansi. Hematological parameters revealed decrease in hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, red blood cells and packed cell volume (PCV) while erythrocytes sedimentation rate (ESR) was increased in the infected dog. The animal was successfully treated with single dose of Diminazene aceturate at the dose rate of 3.5 mg/kg body weight, intramuscularly along with the supportive therapy.