Management of trypanosomiasis in a tigress Panthera tigiris: a case report
AtulGupta 1, Kajal Jadav2, Jasbir Singh Chouhan3 & Parag Nigam 4
1 Veterinary
Officer, Van Vihar National Park (VVNP), Bhopal,
Madhya Pradesh, India
2 VeterinaryOfficer, Van Vihar Bear
Rescue Facility, Wildlife S.O.S, VVNP, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
3 Ex-Director,
VVNP, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
4 Senior
Lecturer, Department of Wildlife Health Management, Wildlife Institute of
India, Dehradun, Uttarakhand248001, India
Email:1 dratulgupta2000@rediffmail.com; 4 nigamp@wii.gov.in (corresponding author)
Date of publication
(online): 26 October 2009
Date of publication (print): 26
October 2009
ISSN 0974-7907 (online) |
0974-7893 (print)
Editor: Jacob V. Cheeran
Manuscript details:
Ms # o2197
Received 06 May 2009
Final received 19 June 2009
Finally accepted 23 September 2009
Citation: Gupta, A., K. Jadav, J.S. Chouhan & P.
Nigam (2009). Management of trypanosomiasis in a
tigress Panthera tigiris:
a case report. Journal of Threatened Taxa1(10): 538-540.
Copyright: © Atul Gupta, Kajal Jadav, Jasbir Singh Chouhan & Parag Nigam 2009.
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. JoTT allows unrestricted use of this article in any medium
for non-profit purposes, reproduction and distribution by providing adequate
credit to the authors and the source of publication.
Trypanosoma evansi is an important protozoan parasite of mammals that
is transmitted by haematophagous flies (Veer et. al.
2002) of the genera Tabanus, Stomoxys (Parashar et al.2006), Haematopota, Liperosiaand Chrysops (OIE 2005). The parasite is pathogenic to both domestic
and wild animals and may affect more than 30 wild animal species (OIE
2005). The disease is endemic in the
Indian subcontinent, with recent reports of mortalities in zoos in Lahore
(Pakistan) and Dhaka (Bangladesh). Major
outbreaks as well as sporadic cases of trypanosomiasishave been reported in tigers in captivity in India (Ziauddinet al. 1992; Singh et al. 1997; Parija &
Bhattacharya 2001). Wild carnivores
infected with trypanosomes may display typical signs similar to those exhibited
by domestic species, or may succumb without showing any signs. The major clinical findings include fever,
anemia, weight loss, edema, lymphadenomegaly, uncoordinated
movements (gait) and sudden death.
The present communication reports a case
of trypanosomiasis in a tigress and response to quinapyramine therapy at Van ViharNational Park, Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) during January 2008.
Area details: Van Vihar National Park lies between 23020’86”-23020’89”N
& 77015’14”-77015’10”E along the banks of Upper Lake,
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Animal housings
are located on a hilly plateau, with an individual kraal of 40 x 28 m attached
to a feeding and retiring den of 2.2 x 3.3 m with provision for manual
restraint. Housings are separated by
concrete walls.
Case history: An adult tigressPriya aged about eight years and weighing
approximately 100kg exhibited signs of inappetence,
anorexia, dullness and depression for 24 hours. The animal was shifted to a squeeze cage and restrained for physical
examination. Physiological parameters
were monitored and revealed rapid and shallow respiration (78 breaths per
minute), elevated heart rate (110 beats per minute) and increased rectal
temperature (1040F).
Methods: About 10ml of
blood was collected from the tail vein and placed in a heparinized vacutainer for haematologicalanalysis and in a plain vacutainer for serum
biochemical analysis. A scat sample was
also collected for parasitological examination. The samples were sent to the State Disease Investigation Laboratory,
Bhopal for further haematobiochemicalexaminations including total erythrocyte count (TEC), total leucocyte count (TLC), differential leucocytecount (DLC), packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobinconcentration, serum calcium, inorganic phosphorus, creatinine,bilirubin (total and direct) in addition to
estimating serum proteins and enzymes, chiefly alanineamino transferase (ALT), aspartateamino transferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatise (ALP) (Coles 1986). Mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean
corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were calculated by the
formula as described by Swenson & Reece (1996). Wet blood mounts were
examined directly; the dried blood smear was stained by Giemsastain (Schalm et al. 1975) for differential leucocyte count and examination of blood parasites.
Result and Discussion: The stained
blood smear and wet mounts revealed the presence of trypomastigotesindicative of Trypanosoma infection. The species of trypanosome could not be
determined due to non-availability of immunodiagnostic tests. Coprologicalexamination did not reveal any parasitic ova. The animal was treated with Triquin (quinapyramine sulphate and quinapyraminechloride; Wockhardt Limited) in addition to fluid and
supportive therapy. Antibiotic cover was
provided to avoid secondary bacterial infection. Treatment provided is summarized in Table 1. The tigress was provided with small
quantities of mutton soup and glucose water initially while solid food was
withheld for 24 hours. Body temperature
began to recede by 24 hours and reached normal (101.50F) by the end
of the second day. The animal showed
signs of recovery after 48 hours as manifested by consuming about 6kg of
buffalo meat, alertness, normal gait and normal defecation and micturation. Blood
samples were again collected for examination after 48 hours of treatment and
tested negative for haemoprotozoans. Blood profiling was done after a month and
the details of the laboratory analysis are tabulated in Table 2.
Additional blood samples from tigers
(7), lions (9) and leopards (3) in nearby enclosures were collected and
screened for haemoprotozoans within seven days of the
incident. No haemoprotozoanscould be detected in the blood smears and wet mounts.
The blood profile of the tigress prior
to treatment showed considerable decrease in haematologicalvalue (Hb, TEC, PCV and MCHC); biochemical values
(serum creatinine, calcium, phosphorus levels) as
compared to the values recorded for these parameters in healthy tigers (Singh
et al. 1999; Fowler 2003). Similar low values were reported in an ailing
tigress that succumbed to chronic trypanosomiasis at
Sanjay Gandhi Zoological Park, Patna (Singh et al. 2000). There was marked increase in the TLC,
polymorphs, serum bilirubin, ALP and AST level
indicative of multiple system involvement (e.g. hepatic and renal disorder).
The clinical signs of decreased
appetite, weakness, dullness and depression in the present case have been
reported by Parija & Bhattacharya (2001), while
typical signs of staggering gait, muscular tremors, bilateral ocular discharge,
circling movements, dashing against objects, frequent urination reported by Losos (1980) and Singh et al. (2000) were not
encountered.
Marked improvement was noted in haemogram and ALP activity within 48 hours of the
treatment. However, AST, ALT and serum
proteins including globulin and albumin did not show appreciable changes. No signs of drug toxicity were noted. Following the incident, the husbandry
practices (vector control, proper waste disposal, meat inspection, disinfection
and sanitation) followed in the VVNP were reviewed.
Since there had been no recent history
of animal exchange between facilities or reports of outbreaks of trypanosomiasis in and around the park, it was presumed
that the infection might have gained entry through vectors that travelled
through fomites, vertebrate pests or infected meat.
Conclusion: A naturally
occurring infection with Trypanosome sp. was detected in a tigress from
Van Vihar National Park, Bhopal, (M.P.)
and successfully treated with quinapyramine salts.
Diagnosis was based on microscopic detection of trypomastigotes,
and confirmed by positive response to treatment. The rapid clinical treatment
and absence of trypanosomes in blood smears prepared after treatment indicated
that Triquin (quinapyramine sulphate and quinapyraminechloride, Wockhardt Limited) was effective and safe
for use in treatment of trypanosomiasis in
tigers. This case highlights the
utility of regular screening of animals for infectious and parasitic diseases,
and effective management for prevention and control of trypanosomiasis.
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