Blood Transfusion as an Adjunct Therapy in a Foal Affected with Trypanosomiasis

Abstract

Trypanosomiasis is an infectious haemo protozoan disease that affects various domestic, pet, and wild animals. A 9-month-old foal was presented to the Veterinary Clinical Complex of the College of Veterinary Science, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad with a complaint of reduced appetite, red color urine, and rapid loss of weight for a week. Upon physical examination pale conjunctival and buccal mucous membranes were noticed along with a temperature of 97.2⁰ F   Auscultation of the heart revealed high intensity heart beats with 72 bpm. A blood smear was prepared from peripheral veins and its examination revealed RBCs with pleomorphism, microcytes and a few RBCs are acanthocytes. Wet film examination revealed vigorously moving spindle-shaped intercellular parasites Further, Giemsa-stain smear examination revealed the presence of intercellular spindle-shaped organisms, which are suggestive of Trypanosoma evansi. A complete blood picture revealed severe anemia, low levels of hemoglobin, and thrombocytosis, monocytosis, and lymphocytosis. Based on these findings, the case was diagnosed as trypanosomosis and the treatment was initiated with Diminazene aceturate at 3.5mg/K, iron Folic acid, and cyanocobalamin, along with blood transfusion to manage anemia. The foal was successfully revived following a blood transfusion.