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Prevalence and Molecular Identification of Trypanosomes in Dogs in Enugu North Senatorial Zone, South East Nigeria

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Abstract

Purpose

Dogs are of immense social, psychological and economic importance in Nigeria and are severely affected by African trypanosomosis. However, the prevalence of canine African trypanosomosis (CAT) in Nigeria is underreported and the identification of the parasites relies mostly on basic morphological characteristics under the microscope, which could be misleading. The present study was carried out to determine the prevalence and characterize trypanosomes isolated from dogs in South east Nigeria.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was carried out to determine the prevalence and molecular identification of trypanosomes in dogs in Enugu North Senatorial Zone (ENSZ), South east Nigeria. Dogs (n = 450) were randomly sampled, their blood collected and some characteristics such as sex, breed, sampling location, season and age duly noted. The blood samples were screened for trypanosomosis using standard trypanosome detection techniques. Trypanosome-positive blood samples were spotted on FTA® cards for molecular identification using nested Tubulin-PCR, ITS-PCR, TgsGP-PCR, and DNA sequencing. Some hematological parameters of the dogs such as packed cell volume (PCV), total leucocyte count (TLC), red blood cell count (RBC) were also determined.

Results

Of the 450 dogs sampled, 51 dogs were positive for trypanosomes with a prevalence rate of 11.3% (95% CI = 0.087–0.146). Trypanosoma brucei was the predominant trypanosome species infecting dogs in the study area. T. congolense, T. evansi, and T. vivax were also identified. The prevalence of canine trypanosomosis was significantly associated with season (χ2 = 13.821, df = 1, P = 0.0001) and the sampling location (χ2 = 6.900, df = 2, P = 0.032) while sex, breed, and age were not. The PCV and RBC of the infected dogs were significantly lower (p < 0.0001) than those of the uninfected dogs.

Conclusions

CAT due to T. brucei is very prevalent in Enugu North Senatorial Zone, South east Nigeria and is associated with hematological changes. Our study also detected T. vivax in dogs in South east Nigeria which appears to be the first report of T. vivax in a dog in Nigeria.

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Availability of data and material

All additional data associated with this study can be obtained from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Code availability

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Acknowledgements

The assistance and co-operation of the study participants, dog market executives, and the staff of University of Nigeria Veterinary Teaching Hospital were hugely appreciated.

Funding

The field work of this study was funded by the Nigerian Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) via Institution Based Research Intervention (TETFUND/DESS/UNI/NSUKKA/2018/RP/VOL.1). The molecular identification was done with funds from the World Bank African Centers of Excellence Grant (ACE02-WACCBIP: Awandare).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

    Chukwunonso Francis Obi, Ikenna Onyema Ezeh, Michael Ikenna Okpala & Romanus Chukwuduruo Ezeokonkwo

  2. Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

    Onyinye Agina

  3. Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria

    Paschal Ugochukwu Umeakuana

  4. West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana

    Gabriella Ama Amoakoma Essuman & Theresa Manful Gwira

  5. Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana

    Gabriella Ama Amoakoma Essuman & Theresa Manful Gwira

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  1. Chukwunonso Francis Obi
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Contributions

RCE and CFO conceived the research. RCE, TMG, and CFO designed the research. CFO, IOE, IMO, OA, and PUU conducted the field experiments. TMG and GAAE conducted the molecular experiments. CFO and TMG analyzed data. CFO wrote the manuscript. IOE, TMG, and RCE reviewed and edited the manuscript. All authors read and approved the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chukwunonso Francis Obi.

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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interest.

Ethical Approval

The University of Nigeria, national and international guidelines for the ethical care and use of laboratory animals were fully adhered to. Also, ethical clearance (FVM-UNN-IACUC-2019-0919) was gotten from the University of Nigeria Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.

Consent to Participate

Informed consent of the dog owners and sellers was duly sought for and obtained.

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Obi, C.F., Ezeh, I.O., Okpala, M.I. et al. Prevalence and Molecular Identification of Trypanosomes in Dogs in Enugu North Senatorial Zone, South East Nigeria. Acta Parasit. 67, 391–402 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-021-00475-4

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