COINFECTION WITH TRYPANOSOMA EVANSI AND ANAPLASMA MARGINALE IN A BUFFALO AND ITS SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT - A CASE REPORT

P. Ramadevi; J. Jayalakshmi; K. Anthony Raju; K. Swathi``

doi:10.56093/ijvasr.v55i3.179305

Authors

P. Ramadevi Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Parasitology, NTR College of Veterinary Science, Gannavaram, Andhra Pradesh - 521 101
J. Jayalakshmi Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary Science, Garividi, Andhra Pradesh
K. Anthony Raju Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Paralakhemundis
K. Swathi`` Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Mhow, NDVSU, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijvasr.v55i3.179305

Keywords:

Trypanosoma evansi, Anaplasma marginale, buffalo, mixed infection, epistaxis, thrombocytopenia

Abstract

Coinfection with haemoprotozoan parasitespose a major threat to livestock health and productivity in tropical regions.Trypanosoma evansi and Anaplasma marginale are important vector-borne protozoan parasites of cattle and buffaloes. While mixed infections of Trypanosoma with Babesia and Theileria, or Anaplasma with Babesia have been documented, coinfection with T. evansi and A. marginale in livestock is rarely reported. This paper reports a case of an eight-year-old female buffalo presenting with epistaxis, bleeding from ears and hair follicles, anorexia, pyrexia, and reduced milk yield. Laboratory findingsconfirmed the presence of both T. evansi and A. marginale in peripheral blood smear examination, along with severe anaemia and thrombocytopenia. The animal was successfully treated with quinapyramine salts, oxytetracycline, haemostatic agents, supportive therapy, and nutritional supplementation, resulted in clinical recovery within seven days. This report highlights the clinical significance of mixed haemoprotozoan infections and the need for integrated diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in endemic regions.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Cox, F.E. (2001). Concomitant infections, parasites and immune responses. Parasitology, 122, S23–S38.

Holland, W.G., My, L.N., Dung, T.V., Thanh, N.G., Tam, P.T., and Vercruysse, J. (2001). The influence of T. evansi infection on the immuno- responsiveness of experimentally infected water buffaloes. Veterinary Parasitology, 102(3): 225–234. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304- 4017(01)00534-9

Joshi, V., Dimri, U., Gopalakrishnan, A., Govindappa, B.A. and Alam, S. (2020). Recurrent epistaxis with thrombocytopenia secondary to babesiosis in a Murrah buffalo-A case report. Buffalo Bulletin, 39(4): 493–500.

Kumar, P., Kumar, P., Rama, R.K., Rashmi, K.R., Abhay, K., Kamal, S., Paresh, S. and Manish, K. (2022). Mixed infection of tick-borne haemo- parasites in water buffalo and associated pathological responses and treatment . Indian Journal of Animal Research. 56(8): 978-986. doi:10.18805/IJAR.B-4450.

Magona, J.W. and Mayende, J.S. (2002). Occurrence of concurrent trypanosomosis, theileriosis, anaplasmosis and helminthosis in Friesian, Zebu and Sahiwal cattle in Uganda. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research, 69(2) : 133–140.

Maharana, B.R., Tewari, A.K., Saravanan, B.C. and Sudhakar, N.R. (2016). Important hemoprotozoan diseases of livestock: Challenges in current diagnostics and therapeutics: An update. Vet World, 9(5):487-95. doi:10.14202/vetworld.2016.487-495.

Mushahary, D., Bhattacharjee, K., Sarmah, P.C. and Deka, D.K.(2020). Prevalence of haemoparasites of cattle in four districts of Assam, India and bordering Bhutan. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences 9(11): 1166-1176. doi: https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2020.911.136

Pathak, K.M.L. and Chhabra, M.B. (2011). Trypanosomosis of livestock in India: A review of two decades. The Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, 81(7).

Riet-Correa, F., Krüger, R.F., Afonso, J.A.B. and Negrão, J.A. (2025) Trypanosomosis by trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) vivax in ruminants in brazil: epidemiology, clinical signs, pathology, diagnosis, and control. Veterinary Sciences. 12(9):882. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12090882

Sharma, A., Singla, L.D., Tuli, A, our P and Bal M.S (2015). Detection and assessment of risk factors associated with natural concurrent infection of Trypanosoma evansi and Anaplasma marginale in dairy animals by duplex PCR in eastern Punjab. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 47: 251–257. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-014-0710-6

Suliman, H.B. and Feldman, B.F. (1989). Pathogenesis and aetiology of anaemia in trypanosomiasis with special reference to T. brucei and T. evansi. Veterinary Bulletin, 59 (2): 99-107.

Van Wyk, I.C., Goddard, A., de C Bronsvoort, B.M., Coetzer, J.A., Handel, I.G., Hanotte, O., Jennings, A., Lesosky, M., Kiara, H., Thumbi, S.M., Toye, P., Woolhouse, M.W. and Penzhorn, B.L. (2014). The impact of co-infections on the haematological profile of East African Short-horn Zebu calves. Parasitology, 141(3):374-88. doi: 10.1017/S0031182013001625.

World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). (2024). Bovine anaplasmosis. In WOAH Terrestrial Manual. available at https://www. woah.org/fileadmin/Home/fr/Health_ standards/tahm/3.04.01_BOVINE_ ANAPLASMOSIS.pdf