Abstract:
Three herds of camels, comprising 112 animals, in the Moroto district of northeastern Uganda, were examined for Trypanosoma evansi infection using the microhaematocrit centrifugation technique (MHCT) for parasitological diagnosis and a latex
agglutination test (LAT) and an ELISA for immunodiagnosis. The MHCT showed a
parasite prevalence ranging from 0 to 47%, whereas the LAT and ELISA showed
positivities ranging from 35 to 65% and 78 to 100%, respectively. Low haematocrit
values were associated with parasite- or antigen-positive camels. Microscopic
examination of Giemsa-stained bloodstream forms and isoenzyme characterisation of
eight trypanosome isolates showed them all to be T. evansi.