Trypanosome antigen test to characterise infection status in N'Dama cattle
Host ability to control the Development of trypanosomes is a major component of trypanotolerance. However, practical indicators of the parasite control capability have still to be identified as they rely on the availability of more precise diagnostic techniques that could be carried out at the farm level. The level of parasitaemia is not easily quantifiable and depends on demonstration of trypanosomes in peripheral blood by parasitological buffy coat techniques (BCT). However, a high proportion of infections go undetected as many infections are chronic, fluctuate markedly and may be below the limit of detection of this technique. Moreover as N'Dama cattle are able to self-cure to greater or lesser degrees, some parasitaemias can be transient and very difficult to detect under field using BCT. The objective of this study is to evaluate the contribution that trypanosome antigen detection techniques, used in conjunction with parasite detection techniques, can make to improve the assessment of trypanotolerance components under natural challenge. Direct effects of detected parasitaemia on both PCV and growth are illustrated. Relationship between antigen test index and average PCV and daily weight changes over the test period were also observed and the effect of an infection status characterised by the combination of both diagnostic techniques was then evaluated.
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Conference Paper biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
OAU/STRC
1999
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| Subjects: | trypanosomes (phytomonas), antigens, cattle, ndama cattle, infection, |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/51265 |
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| Summary: | Host ability to control the Development of trypanosomes is a major component of trypanotolerance. However, practical indicators of the parasite control capability have still to be identified as they rely on the availability of more precise diagnostic techniques that could be carried out at the farm level. The level of parasitaemia is not easily quantifiable and depends on demonstration of trypanosomes in peripheral blood by parasitological buffy coat techniques (BCT). However, a high proportion of infections go undetected as many infections are chronic, fluctuate markedly and may be below the limit of detection of this technique. Moreover as N'Dama cattle are able to self-cure to greater or lesser degrees, some parasitaemias can be transient and very difficult to detect under field using BCT. The objective of this study is to evaluate the contribution that trypanosome antigen detection techniques, used in conjunction with parasite detection techniques, can make to improve the assessment of trypanotolerance components under natural challenge. Direct effects of detected parasitaemia on both PCV and growth are illustrated. Relationship between antigen test index and average PCV and daily weight changes over the test period were also observed and the effect of an infection status characterised by the combination of both diagnostic techniques was then evaluated. |
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