Veterinary Parasitology, 38 ( 1991 ) 253-256 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., A m s t e r d a m
253
Short Communication
Trypanosoma evansi infection in bovine and buffalo calves in Indonesia R.C. Payne ~, I.P. Sukanto 1, D. Djauhari ~ and T.W.
J o n e s 2'*
~Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Jalan, R.E. Martadinata 32, P.O. Box 52. Bogor, West Java (Indonesia) 2Centrefor Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Easter Bush, Roslin, EH25 9RG (UK) (Accepted for publication 11 October 1990)
ABSTRACT Payne, R.C., Sukanto, I.P., Djauhari, D. and Jones, T.W., 1991. Trypanosoma evansi infection in bovine and buffalo calves in Indonesia. Vet. Parasitol., 38: 253-256. Fifteen bovine and 11 buffalo calves born on different farms in a Trypanosoma evansi-endemic area of West Java were monitored for the presence of T. evansi and 72 evansi antibody at monthly intervals until they were 12 months of age. Fifty percenl of the bovine and 83% of the buffalo calves sampled in the first month of life were antibody positive. This antibody was considered to be of colostral origin. Antibody developing later in life persisted for up to 12 months and was considered to have arisen in response to T. evansi infection. No protective function could be ascribed to the colostral antibody.
INTRODUCTION
Young animals show a greater resistance to the effects of trypanosome infection than adults (Fiennes, 1970; Stephen, 1986 ), although the mechanism responsible for such age-related resistance is unknown. In common with the other species of salivarian trypanosomes infecting livestock, there is little information available on the response of young animals to infection with Trypanosoma evansi despite the fact that this parasite affects a wide range of livestock species in many tropical countries (Mahmoud and Gray, 1980). In the present study, a group of buffalo and bovine calves born in a T. evansiendemic area of Indonesia were monitored during the first 12 months of life for their response to natural challenge as part of a study on the epidemiology of infection with the parasite in Indonesia. *Author to w h o m correspondence should be addressed.
0304-4017/91/$03.50
© 1 9 9 1 - Elsevier Science Publishers B.V.
254
R.('. P 4 Y N E ET A[,.
MATERIALS
AND
METHODS
Blood and serum samples were collected from 15 Peranakan Ongole bovine 11 buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves on 26 farms in an area of West Java according to Payne et al. ( 1 9 8 8 ) . The animals were aged between 2 weeks and 3 months when they were first introduced into the study, and monthly visits were made to each farm until each of the calves had been sampled 12 times. Attempts were made to collect samples from a number of the mothers, but in many cases farmers were reluctant to allow blood to be collected from adults and samples could only be collected from three bovine and six buffalo dams. Whole blood samples were examined for the presence of trypanosomes us-
(Bos indicus) and
TABLE 1
To,panosoma evansi
infection
Animal
Animal
A g e in
species
No.
weeks at start
Bovine
Buffalo
status
of bovine
and
calves
o v e r 12 m o n t h s
sampled
Sample No.
~
Antibody status
1
2
3
4
-
-
I
2
E
-
"~
"~
E
E
3
3
-
4
3
.
.
.
.
5
3
.
.
.
.
6
4
E
E
E
-
7
4
T
E
T/E
E
8
4
-
-
-
9
4
10
4
.
ll
4
E
12
8
.
13
8
-
14
12
-
15
12
.
-
E
E .
.
T .
1
1
E
T
2
E
Dead
3 4
2 2
E T/E
E Dead
5
4
.
6 7
4 8
E E
.
8
8
.
.
9 10
8 8
. E
.
12
.
.
7
8
. E E
9
10
11
12
dam
-
E
N.S.
T/E
-
-
-
N.S.
-
N.S.
E
--
-
-
-
-
TE
. -
T/E
-
-
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
N.S.
E
E
E
E
E
E
N.S.
E
E
E
E
.
.
.
. Dead
.
.
N.S.
E
T/E
E
E
N.S.
T
E
E
E
N.S.
E
E
E
E
Positive
-
N.S.
-
-
N.S.
EE
EE
E
E
Positive
- T
EE
E
E
N.S.
E
E
Positive
-
-
N.S. Positive Positive
E
T
.
N.S.
E
-. E
of
Positivc
-
.
-
E
E
. -
.
.
6
-
E
E .
5
-
2
II
bufl'alo
E
E
-
E
E
E
E
E -
E
-
T/E
T/E
E
N.S.
-
-
N.S.
Positbe
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
N.S. Positive
N.S. T
T/E
E
T/E
Positix, e
~E = E L 1 S A p o s i t i v e : T = M H C T p o s i t i v e : - = n e g a t i v e b y E L 1 S A a n d M H C T : N . S . = n o t s a m p l c d .
7~ EII.INNI INFECTION IN CALVES, INDONESIA
255
ing the microhaematocrit centrifugation technique (MHCT) and serum samples examined for the presence of T. evansi antibody by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as described in Payne et al. (1988). RESULTS
Trypanosomal antibodies were detected in five of the bovine and seven of the buffalo calves when first sampled, and in each case the antibody had disappeared by 2-3 months of age (Table 1). Trypanosome antibody reappeared in four bovine and two buffalo calves between 1 and 10 months later, and persisted for the remainder of the study period. The detection of this later, persistent antibody was usually preceded by the appearance of trypanosomes in the blood. Trypanosomes were detected in one bovine and one buffalo calf at the time of first sampling. The sera from the three bovine and six buffalo dams sampled were trypanosome antibody positive. The calves from these mothers were also antibody positive when they were first sampled at 1-4 weeks of age. Three of the buffalo calves died early in the study. T. evansi antibody had been detected in all three and parasites in one animal. DISCUSSION
Fifty percent of bovine and 83% of buffalo calves first sampled at up to 1 month of age were shown to have antibody to T. evansi. This antibody disappeared by 2-3 months of age which suggests that it was of colostral origin (Rogers Brambell, 1970 ) rather than a response to either congenital infection (Lumsden and Wells, 1968 ) or natural challenge between birth and first sampling. All the mothers tested showed antibody to T. evansi and all their calves that were first tested at up to 4 weeks of age were also antibody positive, which provides further evidence of the colostral origin of these early antibodies. The antibody first detected in calves from 3 to 4 months of age persisted for many months and probably represents a response to natural challenge. Such antibody persistence is characteristic of the response to trypanosome infection (Luckins, 1977). Bimodal antibody responses, similar to those seen in the present study, to many other infective agents have been recorded in young animals (Rogers Brambell, 1970) with colostral antibodies playing an important role in protecting the newborn animal from infection until its own immune system is fully functional. No protective function could, however, be ascribed to the colostral antibody detected in the present study as the risk of infection to individual calves at any one time could not be assessed. Three buffalo calves died early in life during the study, possibly as a result of T. evansi infection as trypanosomes had been detected in one animal and
256
R.C. PAYNE ET AL.
all three had been shown to be antibody positive prior to death. Trypanosoma evansi infection could, therefore, be an important factor in calfhood deaths in buffalo. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This study was supported financially by the Overseas Development Administration, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London. The authors would like to thank Dr. Purnomo Ronohardjo, Director of the Research Institute for Veterinary Science, and Professor D.W. Brocklesby, Director, Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine, for the support of the institutes during this investigation, and Dr. A.J. Wilson for support by the James Cook University Project, Australian International Development Aid Bureau. The cooperation of the livestock owners is gratefully acknowledged.
REFERENCES Fiennes, R.N.T.-W., 1970. Pathogenesis and pathology of animal trypanosomiasis. In: H.W. Mulligan (Editor), The African Trypanosomiases. Allen and Unwin, London, pp. 729-750. Luckins, A.G., 1977. Detection of antibodies in trypanosome infected cattle by means of a micro enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Trop. Anim. Health Prod., 9: 52-63. Lumsden, W.H.R. and Wells, E.A., 1968. Tiypanosomiasis. In: D. Weinman and M. Ristic (Editors), Infectious Blood Diseases of Man and Animals, Diseases Caused by Protista, Vol II. The Pathogens, the Infections and the Consequences. Academic Press, New York, pp. 329385. Mahmoud, M.M. and Gray, A.R., 1980. Trypanosomiasis due to Trypanosoma evansi (Steel. 1885) Balbiani, 1888. A review of recent research. Trop. Anita. Health Prod., 12: 35-47. Payne, R.C., Ward, D.E., Usman, M., Rusli, A., Djauhari, D. and Husein, A., 1988. Prevalence of bovine haemoparasites in Aceh province of northern Sumatra: implications for imported cattle. Prev. Vet. Med., 6: 275-283. Rogers Brambell, F.W., 1970. The Transmission of Passive Immunity from Mother to Young. Norlh Holland, Amsterdam, pp. 201-233. Stephen, L.E., 1986. Trypanosomiasis: A Veterinary Perspective. Pergamon, Oxford, p. 302.
253
Short Communication
Trypanosoma evansi infection in bovine and buffalo calves in Indonesia R.C. Payne ~, I.P. Sukanto 1, D. Djauhari ~ and T.W.
J o n e s 2'*
~Research Institute for Veterinary Science, Jalan, R.E. Martadinata 32, P.O. Box 52. Bogor, West Java (Indonesia) 2Centrefor Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Easter Bush, Roslin, EH25 9RG (UK) (Accepted for publication 11 October 1990)
ABSTRACT Payne, R.C., Sukanto, I.P., Djauhari, D. and Jones, T.W., 1991. Trypanosoma evansi infection in bovine and buffalo calves in Indonesia. Vet. Parasitol., 38: 253-256. Fifteen bovine and 11 buffalo calves born on different farms in a Trypanosoma evansi-endemic area of West Java were monitored for the presence of T. evansi and 72 evansi antibody at monthly intervals until they were 12 months of age. Fifty percenl of the bovine and 83% of the buffalo calves sampled in the first month of life were antibody positive. This antibody was considered to be of colostral origin. Antibody developing later in life persisted for up to 12 months and was considered to have arisen in response to T. evansi infection. No protective function could be ascribed to the colostral antibody.
INTRODUCTION
Young animals show a greater resistance to the effects of trypanosome infection than adults (Fiennes, 1970; Stephen, 1986 ), although the mechanism responsible for such age-related resistance is unknown. In common with the other species of salivarian trypanosomes infecting livestock, there is little information available on the response of young animals to infection with Trypanosoma evansi despite the fact that this parasite affects a wide range of livestock species in many tropical countries (Mahmoud and Gray, 1980). In the present study, a group of buffalo and bovine calves born in a T. evansiendemic area of Indonesia were monitored during the first 12 months of life for their response to natural challenge as part of a study on the epidemiology of infection with the parasite in Indonesia. *Author to w h o m correspondence should be addressed.
0304-4017/91/$03.50
© 1 9 9 1 - Elsevier Science Publishers B.V.
254
R.('. P 4 Y N E ET A[,.
MATERIALS
AND
METHODS
Blood and serum samples were collected from 15 Peranakan Ongole bovine 11 buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves on 26 farms in an area of West Java according to Payne et al. ( 1 9 8 8 ) . The animals were aged between 2 weeks and 3 months when they were first introduced into the study, and monthly visits were made to each farm until each of the calves had been sampled 12 times. Attempts were made to collect samples from a number of the mothers, but in many cases farmers were reluctant to allow blood to be collected from adults and samples could only be collected from three bovine and six buffalo dams. Whole blood samples were examined for the presence of trypanosomes us-
(Bos indicus) and
TABLE 1
To,panosoma evansi
infection
Animal
Animal
A g e in
species
No.
weeks at start
Bovine
Buffalo
status
of bovine
and
calves
o v e r 12 m o n t h s
sampled
Sample No.
~
Antibody status
1
2
3
4
-
-
I
2
E
-
"~
"~
E
E
3
3
-
4
3
.
.
.
.
5
3
.
.
.
.
6
4
E
E
E
-
7
4
T
E
T/E
E
8
4
-
-
-
9
4
10
4
.
ll
4
E
12
8
.
13
8
-
14
12
-
15
12
.
-
E
E .
.
T .
1
1
E
T
2
E
Dead
3 4
2 2
E T/E
E Dead
5
4
.
6 7
4 8
E E
.
8
8
.
.
9 10
8 8
. E
.
12
.
.
7
8
. E E
9
10
11
12
dam
-
E
N.S.
T/E
-
-
-
N.S.
-
N.S.
E
--
-
-
-
-
TE
. -
T/E
-
-
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
N.S.
E
E
E
E
E
E
N.S.
E
E
E
E
.
.
.
. Dead
.
.
N.S.
E
T/E
E
E
N.S.
T
E
E
E
N.S.
E
E
E
E
Positive
-
N.S.
-
-
N.S.
EE
EE
E
E
Positive
- T
EE
E
E
N.S.
E
E
Positive
-
-
N.S. Positive Positive
E
T
.
N.S.
E
-. E
of
Positivc
-
.
-
E
E
. -
.
.
6
-
E
E .
5
-
2
II
bufl'alo
E
E
-
E
E
E
E
E -
E
-
T/E
T/E
E
N.S.
-
-
N.S.
Positbe
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
N.S. Positive
N.S. T
T/E
E
T/E
Positix, e
~E = E L 1 S A p o s i t i v e : T = M H C T p o s i t i v e : - = n e g a t i v e b y E L 1 S A a n d M H C T : N . S . = n o t s a m p l c d .
7~ EII.INNI INFECTION IN CALVES, INDONESIA
255
ing the microhaematocrit centrifugation technique (MHCT) and serum samples examined for the presence of T. evansi antibody by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as described in Payne et al. (1988). RESULTS
Trypanosomal antibodies were detected in five of the bovine and seven of the buffalo calves when first sampled, and in each case the antibody had disappeared by 2-3 months of age (Table 1). Trypanosome antibody reappeared in four bovine and two buffalo calves between 1 and 10 months later, and persisted for the remainder of the study period. The detection of this later, persistent antibody was usually preceded by the appearance of trypanosomes in the blood. Trypanosomes were detected in one bovine and one buffalo calf at the time of first sampling. The sera from the three bovine and six buffalo dams sampled were trypanosome antibody positive. The calves from these mothers were also antibody positive when they were first sampled at 1-4 weeks of age. Three of the buffalo calves died early in the study. T. evansi antibody had been detected in all three and parasites in one animal. DISCUSSION
Fifty percent of bovine and 83% of buffalo calves first sampled at up to 1 month of age were shown to have antibody to T. evansi. This antibody disappeared by 2-3 months of age which suggests that it was of colostral origin (Rogers Brambell, 1970 ) rather than a response to either congenital infection (Lumsden and Wells, 1968 ) or natural challenge between birth and first sampling. All the mothers tested showed antibody to T. evansi and all their calves that were first tested at up to 4 weeks of age were also antibody positive, which provides further evidence of the colostral origin of these early antibodies. The antibody first detected in calves from 3 to 4 months of age persisted for many months and probably represents a response to natural challenge. Such antibody persistence is characteristic of the response to trypanosome infection (Luckins, 1977). Bimodal antibody responses, similar to those seen in the present study, to many other infective agents have been recorded in young animals (Rogers Brambell, 1970) with colostral antibodies playing an important role in protecting the newborn animal from infection until its own immune system is fully functional. No protective function could, however, be ascribed to the colostral antibody detected in the present study as the risk of infection to individual calves at any one time could not be assessed. Three buffalo calves died early in life during the study, possibly as a result of T. evansi infection as trypanosomes had been detected in one animal and
256
R.C. PAYNE ET AL.
all three had been shown to be antibody positive prior to death. Trypanosoma evansi infection could, therefore, be an important factor in calfhood deaths in buffalo. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This study was supported financially by the Overseas Development Administration, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London. The authors would like to thank Dr. Purnomo Ronohardjo, Director of the Research Institute for Veterinary Science, and Professor D.W. Brocklesby, Director, Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine, for the support of the institutes during this investigation, and Dr. A.J. Wilson for support by the James Cook University Project, Australian International Development Aid Bureau. The cooperation of the livestock owners is gratefully acknowledged.
REFERENCES Fiennes, R.N.T.-W., 1970. Pathogenesis and pathology of animal trypanosomiasis. In: H.W. Mulligan (Editor), The African Trypanosomiases. Allen and Unwin, London, pp. 729-750. Luckins, A.G., 1977. Detection of antibodies in trypanosome infected cattle by means of a micro enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Trop. Anim. Health Prod., 9: 52-63. Lumsden, W.H.R. and Wells, E.A., 1968. Tiypanosomiasis. In: D. Weinman and M. Ristic (Editors), Infectious Blood Diseases of Man and Animals, Diseases Caused by Protista, Vol II. The Pathogens, the Infections and the Consequences. Academic Press, New York, pp. 329385. Mahmoud, M.M. and Gray, A.R., 1980. Trypanosomiasis due to Trypanosoma evansi (Steel. 1885) Balbiani, 1888. A review of recent research. Trop. Anita. Health Prod., 12: 35-47. Payne, R.C., Ward, D.E., Usman, M., Rusli, A., Djauhari, D. and Husein, A., 1988. Prevalence of bovine haemoparasites in Aceh province of northern Sumatra: implications for imported cattle. Prev. Vet. Med., 6: 275-283. Rogers Brambell, F.W., 1970. The Transmission of Passive Immunity from Mother to Young. Norlh Holland, Amsterdam, pp. 201-233. Stephen, L.E., 1986. Trypanosomiasis: A Veterinary Perspective. Pergamon, Oxford, p. 302.
