Consistent detection of Trypanosoma brucei but not T. congolense DNA in faeces of experimentally infected cattle
Abstract Animal African trypanosomiasis (AAT) is a significant food security and economic burden in sub-Saharan Africa. Current AAT empirical and immunodiagnostic surveillance tools suffer from poor sensitivity and specificity, with blood sampling requiring animal restraint and trained personnel. Fa...
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| Format: | Article |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54857-5 |
| _version_ | 1797274979246538752 |
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| author | Isabel Saldanha Martha Betson Christina Vrettou Edith Paxton James Nixon Peter Tennant Adrian Ritchie Keith R. Matthews Liam J. Morrison Stephen J. Torr Lucas J. Cunningham |
| author_facet | Isabel Saldanha Martha Betson Christina Vrettou Edith Paxton James Nixon Peter Tennant Adrian Ritchie Keith R. Matthews Liam J. Morrison Stephen J. Torr Lucas J. Cunningham |
| author_sort | Isabel Saldanha |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Animal African trypanosomiasis (AAT) is a significant food security and economic burden in sub-Saharan Africa. Current AAT empirical and immunodiagnostic surveillance tools suffer from poor sensitivity and specificity, with blood sampling requiring animal restraint and trained personnel. Faecal sampling could increase sampling accessibility, scale, and species range. Therefore, this study assessed feasibility of detecting Trypanosoma DNA in the faeces of experimentally-infected cattle. Holstein–Friesian calves were inoculated with Trypanosoma brucei brucei AnTat 1.1 (n = 5) or T. congolense Savannah IL3000 (n = 6) in separate studies. Faecal and blood samples were collected concurrently over 10 weeks and screened using species-specific PCR and qPCR assays. T. brucei DNA was detected in 85% of post-inoculation (PI) faecal samples (n = 114/134) by qPCR and 50% by PCR between 4 and 66 days PI. However, T. congolense DNA was detected in just 3.4% (n = 5/145) of PI faecal samples by qPCR, and none by PCR. These results confirm the ability to consistently detect T. brucei DNA, but not T. congolense DNA, in infected cattle faeces. This disparity may derive from the differences in Trypanosoma species tissue distribution and/or extravasation. Therefore, whilst faeces are a promising substrate to screen for T. brucei infection, blood sampling is required to detect T. congolense in cattle. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:06:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-07898443b1c145f8bea0260d12f3222b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:06:49Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-07898443b1c145f8bea0260d12f3222b2024-03-05T18:51:42ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-02-0114111510.1038/s41598-024-54857-5Consistent detection of Trypanosoma brucei but not T. congolense DNA in faeces of experimentally infected cattleIsabel Saldanha0Martha Betson1Christina Vrettou2Edith Paxton3James Nixon4Peter Tennant5Adrian Ritchie6Keith R. Matthews7Liam J. Morrison8Stephen J. Torr9Lucas J. Cunningham10Vector Biology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical MedicineSchool of Veterinary Medicine, University of SurreyRoslin Institute, University of EdinburghRoslin Institute, University of EdinburghLarge Animal Research and Imaging Facility, University of EdinburghLarge Animal Research and Imaging Facility, University of EdinburghLarge Animal Research and Imaging Facility, University of EdinburghInstitute of Immunology and Infection, University of EdinburghRoslin Institute, University of EdinburghVector Biology Department, Liverpool School of Tropical MedicineDepartment of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical MedicineAbstract Animal African trypanosomiasis (AAT) is a significant food security and economic burden in sub-Saharan Africa. Current AAT empirical and immunodiagnostic surveillance tools suffer from poor sensitivity and specificity, with blood sampling requiring animal restraint and trained personnel. Faecal sampling could increase sampling accessibility, scale, and species range. Therefore, this study assessed feasibility of detecting Trypanosoma DNA in the faeces of experimentally-infected cattle. Holstein–Friesian calves were inoculated with Trypanosoma brucei brucei AnTat 1.1 (n = 5) or T. congolense Savannah IL3000 (n = 6) in separate studies. Faecal and blood samples were collected concurrently over 10 weeks and screened using species-specific PCR and qPCR assays. T. brucei DNA was detected in 85% of post-inoculation (PI) faecal samples (n = 114/134) by qPCR and 50% by PCR between 4 and 66 days PI. However, T. congolense DNA was detected in just 3.4% (n = 5/145) of PI faecal samples by qPCR, and none by PCR. These results confirm the ability to consistently detect T. brucei DNA, but not T. congolense DNA, in infected cattle faeces. This disparity may derive from the differences in Trypanosoma species tissue distribution and/or extravasation. Therefore, whilst faeces are a promising substrate to screen for T. brucei infection, blood sampling is required to detect T. congolense in cattle.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54857-5 |
| spellingShingle | Isabel Saldanha Martha Betson Christina Vrettou Edith Paxton James Nixon Peter Tennant Adrian Ritchie Keith R. Matthews Liam J. Morrison Stephen J. Torr Lucas J. Cunningham Consistent detection of Trypanosoma brucei but not T. congolense DNA in faeces of experimentally infected cattle Scientific Reports |
| title | Consistent detection of Trypanosoma brucei but not T. congolense DNA in faeces of experimentally infected cattle |
| title_full | Consistent detection of Trypanosoma brucei but not T. congolense DNA in faeces of experimentally infected cattle |
| title_fullStr | Consistent detection of Trypanosoma brucei but not T. congolense DNA in faeces of experimentally infected cattle |
| title_full_unstemmed | Consistent detection of Trypanosoma brucei but not T. congolense DNA in faeces of experimentally infected cattle |
| title_short | Consistent detection of Trypanosoma brucei but not T. congolense DNA in faeces of experimentally infected cattle |
| title_sort | consistent detection of trypanosoma brucei but not t congolense dna in faeces of experimentally infected cattle |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54857-5 |
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