Bovine Trypanosomiasis: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Vector Control Strategies

Trypanosomosis is transmitted by blood sucking arthropod vectors like tabanid flies and is distributed mostly in Asia, Africa and America with a wide host range. India serves as a significant source for the spread of T. evansi across Asia and nearby islands, with a higher incidence reported in northern and northwestern regions compared to the eastern and southern parts of the country. Antigenic variation leads to immune exhaustion and immunosuppression, which heightens vulnerability to secondary infections. Diagnosis of the disease typically relies on the presence of biting fly vectors, clinical symptoms, and laboratory tests such as direct examination of blood and body fluids, chemical tests, animal inoculation, and immunodiagnostic methods. Despite over 125 years of research, accurate diagnosis still faces challenges due to low sensitivity and specificity, with conventional parasitological techniques being the primary method.