Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Molecular and hematological investigation of Trypanosoma evansi infection in Iranian one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius)

  • Research
  • Published:
Parasitology Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Trypanosoma species cause animal trypanosomiasis that infects many animals. Trypanosoma evansi is an organism that infects camels. There are many economic problems associated with this disease, including lower milk and meat yields and abortions. The purpose of the current survey was molecular study of the presence of Trypanosoma in dromedary camel blood in the south of Iran, and its effects on the hematologic, and some acute-phase protein changes. Blood samples were aseptically collected from the jugular vein of dromedary camels (n = 100; aged from 1 to 6 years) originating from Fars Province in EDTA-coated vacutainers. Genomic DNA from 100 µL of the whole blood was extracted and amplified using a PCR assay based on ITS1, 5.8S, and ITS2 ribosomal regions. Also, the PCR products obtained were sequenced. Moreover, the changes in hematological parameters and serum acute-phase proteins (serum amyloid A, alpha-1 acid glycoprotein, and haptoglobin) were measured. Among 100 tested blood, nine samples (9%, 95% CI: 4.2–16.4%) were found positive by the PCR assay. The phylogenetic tree and blast analysis showed four different genotypes closely related to the strains (accession numbers: JN896754 and JN896755) previously reported from dromedary camels in Yazd Province, center Iran. Based on hematological analysis, normocytic and normochromic anemia and lymphocytosis were detected in the PCR-positive cases compared with the negative group. Furthermore, alpha-1 acid glycoprotein was significantly increased in the positive cases. There was a substantial and positive relation between the number of lymphocytes, and the levels of alpha-1 acid glycoprotein and serum amyloid A in the blood (p = 0.045, r = 0.223 and p = 0.036, r = 0.234, respectively). A noticeable frequency of T. evansi infection was reported in dromedary camels in south Iran. This is the first report on the genetic diversity of T. evansi in this region. There was a significant association among Trypanosoma infection, lymphocytosis, and alpha-1 acid glycoprotein. Trypanosoma-positive camels had a significant decrease in hematocrit (HCT), hemoglobin (Hb), and red blood cell (RBC) values compared to the non-infected group. Further experimental studies are needed to elucidate the hematological and acute-phase protein alteration during a different phase of Trypanosoma spp. infection.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

References

  • Ahmadi-hamedani M, Ghazvinian K, Darvishi MM (2014) Hematological and serum biochemical aspects associated with a camel (Camelus dromedarius) naturally infected by Trypanosoma evansi with severe parasitemia in Semnan, Iran. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed 4(9):743

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Abedi GJ, Sray AH, Hussein AJ, Gharban HA (2020) Detection and bloody profiles evaluation of naturally infected camels with subclinical Trypanosoma evansi, Iraq. Annal Trop Med Public Health 23:232–243

    Google Scholar 

  • Amer S, Ryu O, Tada C, Fukuda Y, Inoue N, Nakai Y (2011) Molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis of Trypanosoma evansi from dromedary camels (Camelusdromedarius) in Egypt, a pilot study. Acta Tropica 117(1):39-46.745

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Asghari MM, Rassouli M (2022) First identification of Trypanosoma vivax among camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Yazd, central Iran, jointly with Trypanosoma evansi. ParasitolInt 86:102450

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Atarhouch T, Rami M, Bendahman MN, Dakkak A (2003) Camel trypanosomosis in Morocco 1: results of a first epidemiological survey. Vet Parasitol 111(4):277–286

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beltran MA, Copeman B, Copland R, Reid S (2004) PCR-ELISA for detection of Trypanosoma evansi in tissues in buffaloes. In Proceedings of 7th World Buffalo Congress (89–90).‏

  • Blume A, Neubacher B, Thiem J, Peters T (2007) Donor substrate binding to trans-sialidase of Trypanosoma cruzi as studied by STD NMR. Carbohyd Res 342(12–13):1904–1909

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Borji H, Razmi GR, Parandeh S (2009) Epidemiological study on haemoparasites of dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) in Iran. J Camel Pract Res 16(2):217–219

    Google Scholar 

  • Chaudhary ZI, Iqbal J (2000) Incidence, biochemical and haematological alterations induced by natural trypanosomosis in racing dromedary camels. Acta Trop 77(2):209–213

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cross RF, Smith CK, Redman D (1971) Observations on Trypanosoma theileri infection in cattle. Can J Comp Med 35(1):12

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Derakhshanfar A, Mozaffari AA, Zadeh AM (2010) An outbreak of trypanosomiasis (Surra) in camels in the Southern Fars Province of Iran: clinical, hematological and pathological findings. Res J Parasitol 5(1):23–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Desquesnes M, Davila AMR (2002) Applications of PCR-based tools for detection and identification of animal trypanosomes: a review and perspectives. Vet Parasitol 109(3–4):213–231

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Desquesnes M, Sazmand A, Gonzatti M, Boulangé A, Bossard G, Thévenon S, Hébert L (2022) Diagnosis of animal trypanosomoses: proper use of current tools and future prospects. Parasit Vectors 15(1):1–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dobson RJ, Dargantes AP, Mercado RT, Reid SA (2009) Models for Trypanosoma evansi (Surra), its control and economic impact on small-hold livestock owners in the Philippines. Int J Parasitol 39(10):1115–1123

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eckersall PD (2008) Proteins, proteomics, and the dysproteinemias. In: Kaneko JJ, Harvey JW, Bruss ML (eds) Clinical biochemistry of domestic animals, 6th edn. Academic Press, San Diego, CA, pp 117–55

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Ghaemi M, Zavarib A, Pirouz HJ (2019) Evaluation of Trypanosama evansi prevalence and risk factors in the one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius) of the north-east of Iran by a real-time PCR test. Prev Vet Med 168:60–65

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Giro A, Jilo K (2020) Prevalence of camel trypanosomosis and associated risk factors in Arero District, Borena Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Int J Vet Sci Res 6(1):014–022

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Habeeba S, Khan RA, Zackaria H, Yammahi S, Mohamed Z, Sobhi W, Al Muhairi S (2022) Comparison of microscopy, card agglutination test for, and real-time PCR in the diagnosis of trypanosomosis in dromedary camels of the Abu Dhabi Emirate, UAE. J Vet Res 66(1):125–129

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hare WCD, Soulsby EJL (1969) Stimulation of DNA synthesis in bovine leukocyte cultures by Trypanosoma theileri antigen. J Parasitol 55(5):973–976

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Herbert WJ, Lumsden WHR (1976) Trypanosoma brucei: a rapid “matching” method for estimating the host’s parasitemia. Exp Parasitol 40(3):427–431

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Holland WG, Claes F, My LN, Thanh NG, Tam PT, Verloo D, Vercruysse J (2001) A comparative evaluation of parasitological tests and a PCR for Trypanosoma evansi diagnosis in experimentally infected water buffaloes. Vet Parasitol 97(1):23–33

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Horadagoda NU, Knox KMG, Gibbs HA, Reid SWJ, Horadagoda A, Edwards SER, Eckersall PD (1999) Acute phase proteins in cattle: discrimination between acute and chronic inflammation. Vet Record 144(16):437–441

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hussain R, Khan A, Abbas RZ, Ghaffar A, Abbas G, Ali F (2016) Clinico-Hematological and Biochemical Studies on Naturally Infected Camels with Trypanosomiasis. Pak J Zool 48(2):311–316

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jatkar PR, Purohit MS (1971) Pathogenesis of anaemia in Trypanosoma evansi infection I Haematology. Indian Vet J 48(3):239–244

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Khosravi A, Hakimi Parizi M, Bamorovat M, Borhani Zarandi M, Mohammadi MA (2015) Prevalence of Trypanosoma evansi in camels using molecular and parasitological methods in the southeast of Iran, 2011. J Parasit Dis 39:422–425

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Khuchareontaworn S, Singhaphan P, Viseshakul N, Chansiri K (2007) Genetic diversity of Trypanosoma evansi in buffalo based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions. J Vet Med Sci 69(5):487–493

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Metwally DM, Al-Turaiki IM, Altwaijry N, Alghamdi SQ, Alanazi AD (2021) Molecular identification of trypanosoma evansi isolated from arabian camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Riyadh and Al-Qassim. Saudi Arabia Animal 11(4):1149

    Google Scholar 

  • Mirshekar F, Yakhchali M, Shariati-Sharifi F (2019) Molecular evidence of Trypanosoma evansi infection in Iranian dromedary camel herds. Ann Parasitol 65(2):159–165. https://doi.org/10.17420/ap6502.196

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nantes WAG, Barreto WTG, Santos FM, de Macedo GC, Rucco AC, de Oliveira Assis W, Herrera HM (2019) The influence of parasitism by Trypanosoma cruzi in the hematological parameters of the white ear opossum (Didelphis albiventris) from Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 120:223–231. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-020-06921-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Njiru ZK, Constantine CC, Ndung’u JM, Robertson I, Okaye S, Thompson RCA, Reid SA (2004) Detection of Trypanosoma evansi in camels using PCR and CATT/T evansi tests in Kenya. VetParasitol 124(3–4):187–199

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Padmaja K (2012) Haemato-biochemical studies of camels infested with trypanosomiasis. Vet World 5(6):356

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pourhoseingholi MA, Vahedi M, Rahimzadeh M (2013) Sample size calculation in medical studies. Gastroenterol Hepatol Bed Bench 6(1):14–17

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Pourjafar M, Badiei K, Sharifiyazdi H, Chalmeh A, Naghib M, Babazadeh M, Mootabi Alavi A, Hosseini Joshani-zadeh N (2013) Genetic characterization and phylogenetic analysis of Trypanosoma evansi in Iranian dromedary camels. Parasitol Res 112:899–903

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Radfar MH, Ebrahimymaimand A, Sharify A (2006) A report on parasitic infections in camel [Camelus dromedarius] of Kerman slaughterhouse]. Journal of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine-University of Tehran 61(2):165–168

    Google Scholar 

  • RanjbarBahadori S, AfshariMoghadam A (2009) Study on the prevalence of blood parasites in camels of Zabol in 2008. Vet Clin Pathol Quart Sci J 3(2 (10) Summer):503–507

    Google Scholar 

  • Ravindran R, Rao JR, Mishra AK, Pathak KML, Babu N, Satheesh CC, Rahul S (2008) Trypanosoma evansi in camels, donkeys and dogs in India: comparison of PCR and light microscopy for detection—short communication. Veterinarski Arhiv 78(1):89–94

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saleh MA, Al-Salahy MB, Sanousi SA (2009) Oxidative stress in blood of camels (Camelus dromedaries) naturally infected with Trypanosoma evansi. Vet Parasitol 162(3–4):192–199

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sarataphan N, Boonchit S, Siriwan C, Indrakamhaeng P (2007) Genetic diversity of Trypanosoma evansi in Thailand based on a repeated DNA coding sequence marker. Developing Methodologies for the Use of Polymerase Chain Reaction in the Diagnosis and Monitoring of Trypanosomosis. IAEA-TECDOC-1559, pp 81–92. www.naweb.iaea.org/nafa/aph/public/aph-tecdoc-1559.pd

  • Sazmand A, Joachim A (2017) Parasitic diseases of camels in Iran (1931–2017)—a literature review. Parasite 24:21

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Sobhy HM, Barghash SM, Behour TS, Razin EA (2017) Seasonal fluctuation of trypanosomiasis in camels in North-West Egypt and effect of age, sex, location, health status and vector abundance on the prevalence. Beni-Suef Univ J Basic Appl Sci 6(1):64–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevens J, Rambaut A (2001) Evolutionary rate differences in trypanosomes. Infect Genet Evol 1(2):143–150

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tamura K, Stecher G, Peterson D, Filipski A, Kumar S (2013) MEGA6: Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis version 6.0. Molecular biology and evolution, 30(12), 2725–2729.on the prevalence. Beni-Suef Univ J Basic Appl Sci 6(1):64–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Tehseen S, Jahan N, Qamar MF, Desquesnes M, Shahzad MI, Deborggraeve S, Büscher P (2015) Parasitological, serological and molecular survey of Trypanosoma evansi infection in dromedary camels from Cholistan desert, Pakistan. Parasit Vectors 8:1–11

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zakian A, Nouri M, Safaei P, Mohammad-Sadegh M, Kahroba H, Mokhber-Dezfouli MR, Moallemian R (2017) An acute outbreak of natural Trypanosoma evansi infection in camel (Camelus dromedarius) herds in the southwestern Iran. Comp Clin Pathol 26:51–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zangooie F, Ganjali M, Keighobadi M, Nabavi R (2018) Molecular detection of Trypanosoma evansi based on ITS1 rDNA gene in Camelusdromedarius in Sistan Region, Iran. Trop Biomed 35(4):1140–1147

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zarif-Fard MR, Hashemi-Fesharki R (2000) Study on tissue and blood protozoa of camels in southern Iran. J Camel Pract Res 7(2):193–194

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Dr. Abdolah Mirzaei for the statistical analysis.

Funding

This work was supported by Shiraz University (grant number: 99GCB1M1251).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, P.O. Box 1731, Shiraz, 71345, Iran

    Sanaz Jafari, Hassan Sharifiyazdi, Tina Yaghoobpour, Mohsen Ghane & Saeed Nazifi

Authors
  1. Sanaz Jafari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hassan Sharifiyazdi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tina Yaghoobpour
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mohsen Ghane
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Saeed Nazifi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

Sanaz Jafari: hematological, ELISA test, and molecular analysis; original draft preparation. Hassan Sharifiyazdi: conceptualization, methodology, software. Tina Yaghoobpour: writing the manuscript. Mohsen Ghane: sample collection and provide signalers and history. Saeed Nazifi: reviewing and editing, methodology.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hassan Sharifiyazdi.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval

All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Ethics Committee approved the research (IACUC no: 4687/63).

Consent to participate

Done and confirmed.

Consent for publication

Done and confirmed.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Handling Editor: Una Ryan

Publisher's note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Jafari, S., Sharifiyazdi, H., Yaghoobpour, T. et al. Molecular and hematological investigation of Trypanosoma evansi infection in Iranian one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius). Parasitol Res 122, 2091–2099 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-023-07908-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-023-07908-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation