Taxonomy

• Phylum: Euglenozoa.
• Class:   Kinetoplastea.
• Order: Trypanosomatida.
• Family: Trypanosomatidae.
• Genus: Trypanosoma.
• Species: evansi.

Etymology

• Gk: trypanon, “borer,” plus sōma, “body.
• Evansi, after Griffith Evans who discovered the organism.

• T. evansi has a wide distribution in Asia, North Africa and Central Africa and Central and South America, the Middle East, Iran, Pakistan, India, Nepal, China and Southeast Asia:
  • In Southeast Asia, it has been reported from Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Laos and Malaysia, but is probably present throughout the region.
  • Surra is found in most parts of Indonesia, and there is serological evidence of its presence in West Papua (formerly Irian Jaya).
  • Positive serology for T. evansi has been detected in cattle and small ruminants on the border between Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, but its presence in Papua New Guinea has not been confirmed.

• Causes “Surra”: affects a wide range of host species and causes fever, weight loss, anemia, and can result in death.
• Affected species include:
  • Horses.
  • Donkeys.
  • Mules.
  • Camels.
  • Dogs.
  • Cats.
•  Species that may suffer milder signs, or act as subclinical carriers include:
  • Cattle.
  • Alpacas.
  • Llamas.
  • Buffalo.
  • Sheep.
  • Goats.
  • Pigs.
  • Capybaras.
  • Elephants.

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Bose R, Friedhoff K T, Olbrich S et al (1987) Transmission of Trypanosoma theileri to cattle by tabanidae. Parasitol Res 73, 421-424 PubMed.
• Powar R M, Shegokar V R, Joshi P P et al (2006) A rare case of human trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma evansi. Indian J Med Microbiol 24 (1), 72-74 PubMed.
• Reid S A & Copeman D B (2003) The development and validation of an antibody-ELISA to detect Trypanosoma evansi infection in cattle in Australia and Papua New Guinea. Prevent Vet Med 61, 195-208 PubMed.
• Holland W G, Claes F, My L N et al (2001) A comparative evaluation of parasitological tests and a PCR for Trypanosoma evansi diagnosis in experimentally infected water buffaloes. Vet Parasitol 97, 23-33 PubMed.
• Brun R, Hecker H & Lun Z (1998) Trypanosoma evansi and T. equiperdum: distribution, biology, treatment and phylogenetic relationship (a review). Vet Parasitol 79, 95-107 PubMed.
• Diall O, Bajyana Songa E, Magnus E et al (1994) Evaluation of a direct serological Card Agglutination Test in the diagnosis of camel trypanosomiasis due to Trypanosoma evansi. Revue Scientifique et Technique des Office International des Epizooties 13 (3), 793-800 PubMed.
• Payne R C, Sukanto I P, Partoutomo S & Jones T W (1994a) Efficacy of Cymerlarsan treatment of Suramin resistant Trypanosoma evansi in cattle. Tropical Anim Health Prod 26, 92-94 PubMed.
• Payne R C, Sukanto I P, Partoutomo S et al (1994b) Efficacy of Cymelarsan in Friesian Holstein calves infected with Trypanosoma evansi. Tropical Anim Health Prod 26, 219-226 PubMed.
• Wuyts N, Chokesajjawatee N & Panyim S (1994) A simplified and highly sensitive detection of Trypanosoma evansi by DNA amplification. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health 25, 266-271 PubMed.
• Payne R C, Sukanto I P, Djauhari D et al (1991b) Trypanosoma evansi infection in cattle, buffalo and horses in Indonesia. Vet Parasitol 37, 109-119 PubMed.
• Monzon C M, Mancebo O A & Roux J P (1990) Comparison between six parasitological methods for diagnosis of Trypanosoma evansi in the subtropical area of Argentina. Vet Parasitol 36, 141-146 PubMed.
• Payne R C, Sukanto I P, Graydon R et al (1990) An outbreak of trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma evansi on the island of Madura, Indonesia. Tropical Med Parasitol 41, 445-446PubMed.
• Woo P T K (1969) The haematocrit centrifuge for the detection of trypanosomes in blood. Can J Zool 47, 921-923 PubMed.
• Mulcahy G & Vetstream Ltd (online) Trypanosoma equiperdum. In: Vetlexicon Equis. Vetstream Ltd, UK. Website: www.vetlexicon.com.

Other sources of information

• Animal Health Australia (2021) Australian Veterinary Emergency Plan – Response Strategy, Surra. Website: www.animalhealthaustralia.com.au (pdf download).
• Gov.uk (2021) Surra: How to Spot and Report the Disease. Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Animal and Plant Health Agency, UK. Website: www.gov.uk.
• World Organization for Animal Health (2013) Trypanosmoa evansi Infections (including Surra). OIE Technical disease card. Website: www.woah.org.