TY - JOUR
T1 - Documentation Of Trypanosoma Evansi In Captive Tigers And Lions In Punjab (2016-2018), Pakistan
AU - Khan, Muhammad Akbar
AU - Shabir, Shafqat
AU - Azeem, Shahan
AU - Gill, Warda
AU - Ashraf, Kamran
AU - Azhar, Muhammad
AU - Rashid, Imran
AU - Ashraf, Madiha
AU - Avais, Muhammad
AU - Ahmad, Abdullah Saghir
AU - Younas, Muhammad
AU - Badshah, Adnan
AU - Ahmad, Shoaib
AU - Akbar, Haroon
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians.
PY - 2023/1/5
Y1 - 2023/1/5
N2 - Trypanosoma evansi is an important hemoparasite of a variety of animal species worldwide. This parasite is a threat to the health of domestic animals as well as wild animals, particularly those managed in captivity. The current study investigated the presence of T. evansi in captive tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) and lions (Panthera leo) in Pakistan. In total, 24 blood samples from 11 tigers and 3 lions (n = 14) were collected during the course of roughly 3 yr (2016-2018). Eighteen samples were subjected to both microscopic and molecular evaluation for the presence of T. evansi; the remaining 6 samples were processed for PCR only. Of the 18 samples tested by both methods, 3 (16%) and 8 (44%) were positive by microscopy and PCR, respectively. This highlights the higher sensitivity of PCR over microscopy for detection of trypanosomes. Of the 24 total samples evaluated by PCR, 12 (50%) were positive. The three sequences obtained showed 99% identity with variant surface glycoprotein genes of the different isolates of T. evansi. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of microscopy in identifying T. evansi was 37.5, 100, 100, and 66.7%, respectively, considering PCR as the gold standard. We recommend rigorous monitoring of captive tigers and lions for hemoparasites, particularly in winter and early spring in areas with high infection rate of this parasite, preferably via PCR.
AB - Trypanosoma evansi is an important hemoparasite of a variety of animal species worldwide. This parasite is a threat to the health of domestic animals as well as wild animals, particularly those managed in captivity. The current study investigated the presence of T. evansi in captive tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) and lions (Panthera leo) in Pakistan. In total, 24 blood samples from 11 tigers and 3 lions (n = 14) were collected during the course of roughly 3 yr (2016-2018). Eighteen samples were subjected to both microscopic and molecular evaluation for the presence of T. evansi; the remaining 6 samples were processed for PCR only. Of the 18 samples tested by both methods, 3 (16%) and 8 (44%) were positive by microscopy and PCR, respectively. This highlights the higher sensitivity of PCR over microscopy for detection of trypanosomes. Of the 24 total samples evaluated by PCR, 12 (50%) were positive. The three sequences obtained showed 99% identity with variant surface glycoprotein genes of the different isolates of T. evansi. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of microscopy in identifying T. evansi was 37.5, 100, 100, and 66.7%, respectively, considering PCR as the gold standard. We recommend rigorous monitoring of captive tigers and lions for hemoparasites, particularly in winter and early spring in areas with high infection rate of this parasite, preferably via PCR.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85146363878
U2 - 10.1638/2021-0053
DO - 10.1638/2021-0053
M3 - Article
C2 - 36640086
AN - SCOPUS:85146363878
SN - 1042-7260
VL - 53
SP - 823
EP - 831
JO - Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
JF - Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
IS - 4
ER -
