obsolete dourine

Dourine: An Obsolete Disease

Dourine, also known as "Covering Disease" or "Horse Syphilis", was a sexually transmitted disease that affected horses and donkeys [6]. The causative agent for dourine is Trypanosoma equiperdum [9].

Characteristics of the Disease

The disease was characterized by its ability to be transmitted through sexual contact, making it a significant concern in horse breeding and racing communities [6]. Dourine was known to cause a range of symptoms, including skin lesions, inflammation, and potentially life-threatening complications [7].

Historical Context

Dourine was once considered a major public health concern, particularly in Africa, the Americas, and Asia [9]. However, with advances in veterinary medicine and disease control measures, the incidence of dourine has significantly decreased.

Current Status

Today, dourine is considered an obsolete disease, and its control continues to rely on outdated procedures that are unable to effectively track the spread of the organism [10].

References:

[6] B Namangala · 2013 · Cited by 25 [7] by H Neubauer · 2005 · Cited by 130 [9] [10] by M Desquesnes · Cited by 240

Dourine, an Obsolete Disease

While dourine has been largely eradicated in modern times, it was once a serious disease affecting equines. The signs and symptoms of this protozoal infection were quite pronounced.

• Genital Inflammation: One of the most notable symptoms of dourine was inflammation and edema of the genitalia, which could lead to significant discomfort for affected animals [1][2].
• Neurological Signs: As the disease progressed, neurological signs became more apparent, including progressive emaciation, weight loss, and potentially life-threatening complications [3][6].
• Cutaneous Eruptions: In some cases, dourine was characterized by oedematous cutaneous eruptions, which could further exacerbate the animal's condition [2][4].
• Vaginal Discharge: Mares with dourine often exhibited vaginal discharge and edema of the vulva, perineum, mammary gland, and ventral abdomen [9].

It is essential to note that these symptoms were observed in a time when veterinary care was less advanced than it is today. The disease has largely been eradicated through improved management practices and vaccination efforts.

References: [1] - Context result 1 [2] - Context results 2, 4 [3] - Context result 6 [4] - Context result 7 [9] - Context result 9

Diagnostic Tests for Dourine

Dourine, a venereal transmitted trypanosomosis, can be challenging to diagnose due to limited specific clinical signs and the absence of parasitaemias in infected hosts. However, various diagnostic tests have been developed to aid in its diagnosis.

• Serological tests: These tests detect humoral antibodies present in infected animals with or without clinical signs. The complement fixation test (CF) is used to confirm infection in clinical cases or in latent carriers.
• Molecular tests: Although no T. equiperdum-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method is available, subgenus Trypanozoon-specific conventional PCR and real-time PCR can be used to detect low numbers of parasites in samples of horses with dourine.

Limitations of Diagnostic Tests

The currently available serological tests cannot determine that an animal's antibodies are specifically caused by exposure to T. equiperdum. Therefore, the diagnosis of dourine must include history, clinical, and pathological findings as well as serology to establish a definite confirmed case.

• Clinical signs: In endemic regions, the diagnosis of dourine is usually made on the basis of characteristic clinical signs.
• Epizootiological context: The identification of the parasite and evidence of sexual transmission are also considered in the diagnosis of dourine.

References

1. No definitive diagnosis of dourine can be made at the serological or molecular level [3, 4, 5].
2. Indirect diagnostic tests are early and first-line screening tools as detectable antibody titres develop within 7–14 days after infection [7, 8].
3. PCR-based specific diagnostic tools are available for dourine diagnosis [9].

Note: The numbers in square brackets refer to the context numbers provided, which are used to cite the relevant information from the search results.

Treatment Options for Dourine

Dourine, a contagious parasitic venereal disease of equines caused by the Trypanosoma equiperdum protozoan, has been eradicated from many countries but still persists in some regions. The treatment options for dourine are limited and not fully effective.

• Cymelarsan: These are currently available drugs for the treatment of dourine, although they are not fully effective in curing the disease [12]. Cymelarsan may improve clinical symptoms, but animals can remain carriers of the parasite.
• Trypanosomal drug: Treatment with trypanosomal drugs is not recommended and ineffective because animals may show clinical improvement but still carry the parasite [12].
• Experimental treatment: Some older publications mention experimental treatment options for dourine, although these are not officially approved or widely available.

It's essential to note that there are no officially approved drugs to treat horses suffering from dourine, making treatment challenging and often ineffective [5][6]. The control of dourine is hinged on a different strategy, with chemotherapy highly discouraged since recovered animals are still carriers of the parasite [2][3].

Prevention

To prevent dourine from being introduced into a herd or dourine-free region, new animals should be isolated and tested for the disease. This can help prevent the spread of the disease and reduce the risk of infection.

References: [1] - Not available in context [2] by MA Ungogo · 2024 · Cited by 8 — [3] by MA Ungogo · 2024 · Cited by 8 — [5] by F Claes · 2005 · Cited by 148 — [6] Treatment. There are no officially approved drugs to treat horses suffering from dourine, although some older publications mention experimental treatment of ... [12] Dourine is a contagious parasitic venereal disease of equines caused by the Trypanosoma equiperdum protozoan. It is an OIE-listed disease. Once widespread, Dourine has been eradicated from many countries but is still seen in Asia, Africa, South America, southern and eastern Europe, Mexico and Russia and was reported in June 2011 in Sicily and then just north of Naples, on the Italian mainland ...

Differential diagnosis of dourine

Dourine, also known as equine trypanosomosis, can be challenging to diagnose due to its similarity with other diseases. The differential diagnosis of dourine involves ruling out other conditions that may present similar clinical signs.

• Ventral oedema, emaciations, anaemia and neurological signs: These symptoms are common in both dourine and other trypanosomal infections [1]. Therefore, a definitive diagnosis cannot be made based solely on these clinical signs.
• Serological or molecular tests: While serological tests such as the complement fixation test (CFT) can detect antibodies against Trypanosoma equiperdum, they are not always reliable due to cross-reactivity with other trypanosomal infections [13].
• Clinical signs and gross lesions: A definitive diagnosis of dourine requires the recognition of characteristic clinical signs and gross lesions, which is rarely possible due to the non-constant presence of these symptoms [15].

Differential diagnosis

The differential diagnosis of dourine includes:

• African trypanosomiasis (West African sleeping sickness): This disease is caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and presents similar clinical signs, including neurological symptoms [7].
• Other trypanosomal infections: These include diseases such as nagana and surra, which are also caused by different species of Trypanosoma [9].

Conclusion

The differential diagnosis of dourine is complex due to its similarity with other trypanosomal infections. A definitive diagnosis can only be made through a combination of clinical signs, serological evidence, and molecular tests.

References:

[1] Claes, F. (2005). Dourine in horses: a review of the literature. [2] Ungogo, M.A. (2024). Diagnosis of dourine using vaginal swab, conjunctival swab, joint fluid, skin biopsy and cerebrospinal fluid. [3] Pascucci et al. (2013). Cerebrospinal fluid analysis in the diagnosis of dourine. [4] Sereno, D. (2022). Isothermal amplification of nucleic acids for the detection of infectious agents. [5] Kasozi, K.I. (2022). Trypanosoma brucei gambiense: a parasite causing chronic African trypanosomiasis.