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Surra Trypanosoma evansi, qPCR

Name: Surra Trypanosoma evansi, qPCR
Brand: Equigerminal
Price: 55.35 EUR

Test that looks for the tiny blood parasite that causes surra, spread by biting flies, in your horse's blood. ...

€55.35 Incl. VAT

About

This qPCR test detects the genome (DNA) of Trypanosoma evansi, the protozoan parasite responsible for Surra. Molecular detection provides a rapid, sensitive and specific method for diagnosing active infection and supports disease surveillance and import/export screening.

Why test?

Testing is recommended to:

Diagnose suspected Trypanosoma evansi infection.
Investigate horses with unexplained fever, anaemia or neurological signs.
Differentiate Surra from other infectious diseases with similar clinical signs.
Support disease surveillance in endemic or at-risk regions.
Assist veterinarians in implementing timely treatment and disease control measures.

Clinical signs

The general clinical signs of evansi infections: pyrexia directly associated with parasitaemia together with a progressive anaemia, loss of condition and lassitude are not sufficiently pathognomonic for diagnosis.
Recurrent episodes of fever and parasitaemia occur during the course of the disease.
Oedema, particularly of the lower parts of the body, urticarial plaques and petechial haemorrhages of the serous membranes are sometimes observed in horses.
Abortions have been reported in buffalos and camels.
Nervous signs are common in horses.
The disease causes immunodeficiencies that may be of high impact when interfering with other diseases or vaccination campaigns.
Trypanosomiasis caused by evansi can be clinically confused with other diseases, including equine protozoal myeloencephalitis in the chronic stages.
Where surra is suspected, it is important to rule out other causes of equine neurologic disease.

Transmission

Surra is a non-contagious disease, transmitted only mechanically by several different genera of haematophagous flies.

The efficiency of vector transmission is dependent on high intensity of fly challenge, the presence of high numbers of the parasite in the blood of horses, and the close herding of animals that maintains short intervals between successive feeds. The infectivity of a fly is highest within minutes of feeding and drops quickly thereafter, with the loss of ability to reinfect when feeding intervals exceed 8 hours.

Wild carnivores and dogs can be infected by ingestion of meat from parasitaemic animals.

In Central and South America, The vampire bat can also act as a vector.

The disease can be reproduced experimentally by blood inoculation.

Prevention

There is no vaccine against trypanosomiasis.
Therefore, conventional disease control measures are based on the use of curative and preventive drugs to combat the parasite and interventions to control fly populations.
Control and eradication of surra from an area is usually depends upon the detection and treatment of infected animals.
Protection of susceptible animals from biting flies by smoking and using flies repellants.

Results

The qPCR test reports one of the following:

Detected: Trypanosoma evansi DNA was identified in the submitted sample.
Not Detected: No Trypanosoma evansi DNA was detected.

Results should always be interpreted together with the horse's clinical history, examination and epidemiological risk.

Sample

5 mL - blood - K3 EDTA tube

Send your sample by regular mail to:

Equigerminal Lab HIESE
Rua da Quinta do Sobreiro Nº25
3230-343 Penela, Portugal

Turnaround

2 to 5 working days

How it works

🛒 Purchase the test: select and buy the test online.

📧 Receive instructions: after payment confirmation you receive sample collection instructions by e-mail.

🩺 Your veterinarian collects the sample: this test must be collected by a veterinarian, who collects the samples described above under Sample.

📄 Complete the form: print and complete the submission form with the animal identification.

📮 Send it to the laboratory: Equigerminal, S.A., HIESE, Rua da Quinta do Sobreiro, 25, Quinta Vale do Espinhal, 3230-343 Penela, PORTUGAL.

📄 Receive your report: your certified report is issued as soon as the analysis is validated.

FAQs

Which horses should be tested?

Horses showing recurrent fever, anaemia, weight loss, neurological signs or those with exposure to endemic regions should be tested.

What sample is required?

5 mL of blood collected in a K3 EDTA tube.

Is Surra contagious between horses?

No. Surra is transmitted mechanically by blood-feeding insects rather than through direct horse-to-horse contact.

Can Surra be prevented by vaccination?

No. There is currently no commercial vaccine available. Prevention focuses on vector control and early diagnosis.

When will I receive my results?

Results are available within 2 to 5 working days after sample arrival at the laboratory.

More

Surra is an economically important vector-borne disease affecting horses and many other domestic and wild mammals. Because clinical signs are often non-specific and may resemble other infectious or neurological diseases, molecular diagnosis by qPCR is an important tool for confirming infection and guiding disease control.