TRYPANOSOMA-BRUCEI, TRYPANOSOMA-CONGOLENSE AND T-VIVAX INFECTIONS IN HORSES ON A FARM IN KENYA

Equines are particularly susceptible to infection with Trypanosoma eva nsi and T. brucei, but rarely is natural T. congolense and T. vivax in fection seen in horses. An outbreak of trypanosomosis occurred in a he rd of horses used for patrolling the pineapple fields on the Del Monte Farm, Thika, Kenya initially involving 6 horses. On subsequent screen ing of the entire group, T. brucei, T. congolense and T. vivax infecti ons were detected in 16 of the 35 horses. The tests used for diagnosis included microscopic examination of stained blood smears, buffy coat technique, mouse inoculation and antigen detection enzyme immunoassay (antigen ELISA).