A clinical study of equine trypanosomosis in Kerala

Abstract

This study was done on three female Marwari horses 3, 4 and 5 years old from Pookkottur, Areekode and Mankada (Case no. 1, 2 and 3 respectively) in Malappuram district of Kerala. The mares showed inappetance, lethargy, weight loss, scanty and watery faeces, yellowish discoloration of urine and hind limb weakness. Physical examination was carried out and blood samples were collected for laboratory investigation. Clinical examination revealed, all the animals were debilitated with pale and moist mucous membrane, pyrexia, prolonged capillary refill time, tachypnoea and tachycardia. Laboratory investigation revealed the presence of Trypanosoma sp. in all the three cases. Haematological examination revealed low Haemoglobin, Packed Cell Volume and Total Erythrocyte Count. The treatment was done using Diminazine aceturate (7 mg/kg bodyweight, intramuscular), two doses in 7 days interval. A screening done after a week revealed all mares were free from parasite. All mares had an uneventful recovery.