A pilot sero-survey for surra in livestock in Karnataka by ELISA using flagellar antigen of Trypanosoma evansi

Abstract

Background: Trypanosoma evansi causes trypanosomosis or ‘surra’ in domestic and wild animals and is transmitted
by haematophagus tabanid fly. For successful control of the disease, it is important to detect the carrier animals
followed by successive treatment. For this purpose a reliable serological test is useful for mass screening of the
animals. Methodology: In the present study, emphasis was given to address the need for the development of a mass
screening serological test by using purified flagellar antigen of T. evansi for the detection of antibody against surra.
Also a pilot sero-epidemiological study for trypanosomosis in different species using purified flagellar (FLA) antigen
based indirect enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (I-ELISA) was conducted and compared with standard CATT/T.
evansi test. The diagnostic potentiality of purified FLA antigen based I-ELISA (FLA-I-ELISA) was evaluated using
197 sera samples from field animals including cattle, buffaloes, horses and donkeys. Results: The test showed an
overall 14.72% sero positivity (S.P). Among cattle, S.P was found to be 18.03%, in buffalo 25%, in horse 6.25% and
in donkeys 5.5%. Conclusion: Thus, epidemiological survey were done with purified FLA antigen based I-ELISA
test in Karnataka reveals that, buffalo samples showed the maximum sero positivity for trypanosomosis.