Trypanosoma avium incidence, pathogenicity and response to melarsomine in falcons from Kuwait

Parasite

W. Tarello¹ 

[1] International Veterinary Hospital, P.O. Box 9275,61003 Ahmadi, Kuwait

关键词: Kuwait;    melarsomine;    chemotherapy;    pathogenicity;    bird of prey;    falcon;    Trypanosoma avium;   

Others  :  808815
DOI  :  doi:10.1051/parasite/2005121085

 received in 2004-09-16, accepted in 2004-12-14,  发布年份 2005

【 摘 要 】

Epidemiological and clinical studies on Trypanosoma avium are lacking in the Middle East. The aims of this study were to determine the T. avium incidence in falcons from Kuwait, report clinical signs and find an effective therapy. Blood smears from 921 diseased and 56 healthy falcons were examined between May 2003 and April 2004. 12 birds (1.3 %) were found infected by T. avium and ten of these were treated with melarsomine (Cymelarsan®) at a dosage of 0.25 mg/kg intramuscularly for four days. All affected birds presented clinical signs, including incapacity of flying high, poor appetite, lethargy, loosing weight, weakness, dyspnoea and death. Signs disappeared within 1-7 days after administration of melarsomine. Trypomastigotes were not detected in blood smears made 1-7 days after the end of therapy. This study suggests that T. avium induces disease in falcons and that melarsomine can be an effective therapy eliminating both clinical signs and circulating trypomastigotes.

【 授权许可】

   
© PRINCEPS Editions, Paris, 2005