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International Breeders' Meeting

INTERNATIONAL COLLATING CENTRE


    Animal Health Trust
    Information Exchange on Infectious Equine Disease
    Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7UU, England
    Telephone: + 44 (0) 8700 502424 extension 1266
    Fax: + 44 (0) 1638 555601
    Website: http://www.aht.org.uk    /icc/linksicc.html

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    PLEASE CONTACT RICHARD NEWTON OR MAIRE O’BRIEN ON THE ABOVE NUMBER, OR E-MAIL
    maire.obrien@aht.org.uk  TO SUBMIT REPORTING INFORMATION

 

Interim Report – May 2011 #7 (31.05.11)

ITALY

Dourine (Trypanosoma equiperdum)
As of 27th May two outbreaks of Dourine have been confirmed on different premises in Scordia, Catania, Sicilia, Italy. In both outbreaks single horses were affected with 5 and 27 in contact horses present on the premises, respectively. Infection with Trypanosoma equiperdum was confirmed by complement fixation test (CFT) performed by the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute (IZS), Teramo (National laboratory). One affected horse has been euthanased and the other affected horse was in a critical situation but still alive at the time of notification. The source of the outbreaks is still inconclusive but control measures are in place.

Dourine is a serious, often chronic, venereal disease of horses and other equids. This protozoal infection can result in neurological signs and emaciation, and the mortality rates are high. No vaccine is available, and treatment with drugs may result in inapparent carriers. The disease was once widespread, but it has been eradicated from many countries. Currently, the disease is considered endemic in parts of Africa and parts of Asia including Russia. Outbreaks or cases are occasionally reported from other areas including the Middle East and Europe. 

 

Regards
International Collating Centre