OIE Reference Laboratory Reports
Activities in 2010
Name of disease (or topic) for
which you are a designated OIE
Reference Laboratory:
Surra (Trypanosoma evansi)
Address of laboratory:
Institute of Tropical Medicine
Department of Parasitology
Nationalestraat 155
B-2000 Belgium
Tel.:
(+32-3) 247.65.34
Fax:
(+32-3) 247.63.73
e-mail address:
website:
Name of Head of Laboratory
(Responsible Official):
Name of OIE Reference Expert:
fclaes@itg.be
www.itg.be
Philippe Büscher
Filip Claes
Name of writer of this report
(if different from above):
Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2010
1
Surra (Trypanosoma evansi)
Part I: Summary of general activities related to the disease
1.
Test(s) in use/or available for the specified disease/topic at your laboratory
Test
For
Specificity
Total
CATT
Antibody
Horse, mule, dog, camel,
donkey
515
ELISA
Antibody
Camel
110
Immune trypanolysis
Antibody
Camel, horse, dog
116
PCR
DNA
Camel, horse, dog
12
Thin film and thick smear
Parasite
Dog, horse
292
Countries for which tests were carried out: Austria, Belgium, Germany, Finland, France, Ireland, Norway,
Portugal, Sweden, UK, The Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland.
2.
Production and distribution of diagnostic reagents
Type of reagent
Amount supplied nationally
(including for own use)
Amount supplied to other
countries
CATT antigen
2000 tests
29000
CATT positive control serum
8 vials of 0.5 ml
116 vials of 0.5 ml
CATT negative control serum
8 vials of 0.5 ml
116 vials of 0.5 ml
VSG RoTat 1.2 purified antigen
5 mg
45 mg
Countries to which reagents were delivered: Italy, France, Germany, Spain, South Africa, Mauretania, Somalia,
Tunisia, Ethiopia, Singapore, China, South Korea, Hong-Kong, Mongolia, Thailand, The Philippines
2
Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2010
Surra (Trypanosoma evansi)
Overview of tests performed and CATT produced over 2008 to 2010
Surra (Trypanosoma evansi)
Total CATT delivered
35000
30000
tests
25000
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
2008
2009
2010
year
Total tests performed
1200
1000
tests
800
600
400
200
0
2008
2009
2010
year
Part II: Activities specifically related to the mandate
of OIE Reference Laboratories
3.
International harmonisation and standardisation of methods for diagnostic testing or the
production and testing of vaccines
International ring trial on the sensitivity and specificity of antigen prepared in different laboratories for diagnosis
of T. equiperdum/T. evansi in Complement Fixation Test and Immunofluorescence Test. Organised by Dr Soldan
from Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA Weybridge, UK).
4.
Preparation and supply of international reference standards for diagnostic tests or vaccines
Not applicable
Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2010
3
Surra (Trypanosoma evansi)
5.
Research and development of new procedures for diagnosis and control
As part of a PhD study of Stijn Rogé, antigens for T. evansi diagnosis are produced in the yeast Pichia pastoris.
The antigens produced are Invariable Surface Glycoprotein 75 and Variable Surface Glycoprotein RoTat 1.2.
Currently, expression and purification of both proteins have been achieved and their diagnostic potential has been
proven in ELISA on a panel of experimentally infected goats and of naturally infected dromedary camel. A
publication has been submitted to Veterinary Parasitology and is under review. The intention is to use these
antigens in other test formats such as indirect agglutination and/or lateral flow.
As subject of an MSc thesis by Céline GUERIN, a q-PCR has been developed for T. evansi diagnosis targeting the
gene for RoTat 1.2 VSG. The title of the thesis is: Diagnostic des infections à Trypanozoon par PCR quantitative
en temps réel. Intérêt particulier du diagnostic différentiel entre T. equiperdum et T. evansi
6.
Collection, analysis and dissemination of epizootiological data relevant to international disease
control
Not applicable
7.
Provision of consultant expertise to OIE or to OIE Members
Reviewing chapter on SURRA the OIE Terrestrial Manual or Code,
FAO/IAEA joint division consultants meeting to develop a roadmap for the implementation of modern OIE
principles and methods of diagnostic test validation, 6-9 September 2010, Vienna, Austria
8.
Provision of scientific and technical training to personnel from other OIE Members
PhD training and thesis: Hagos Ashenafi Tafesse (KULeuven, Addis Ababa University), 2006-2010. Control of
Equine Trypanosomosis (Trypanosoma equiperdum and T. evansi) in the Arsi and Bale highlands of Ethiopia.
Promotor
9.
Provision of diagnostic testing facilities to other OIE Members
Diagnostic CATT/T. evansi -2010
Country
Austria
Belgium
Belgium
Germany
Germany
Finland
France
France
Ireland
Norway
Portugal
Sweden
Sweden
U.K.
U.K.
Netherlands
Netherlands
4
Species
Dog
Dog
Horse
Dog
Mule
Horse
Horse
Dog
Dog
Dog
Dog
Dog
Horse
Dog
Horse
Horse
Dog
Primary diagnosis
N-tests
1
29
6
133
1
10
8
4
4
0
1
8
1
88
7
45
165
Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2010
Surra (Trypanosoma evansi)
France
Austria
Switzerland
Donkey
Dog
Dog
Microscopic parasite detection - 2010
Country
Ireland
U.K.
U.K.
Belgium
Belgium
Netherlands
Netherlands
France
France
Species
Dog
Dog
Horse
Dog
Horse
Horse
Dog
Dog
Horse
Trypanolysis T. evansi - 2010
Country
Germany
U.K.
Spain
Spain
France
Species
Dog
Dog
Horse
Horse
Camel
Diagnostic ELISA/T. evansi - 2010
Country
France
Species
Camels
PCR/T. evansi - 2010
Country
France
Spain
Germany
Species
Camel
Horse
Dog
1
2
1
Primary diagnosis
N-tests
4
87
3
27
6
22
134
4
5
Confirmation diagnosis
N-tests
1
1
1
2
111
Primary diagnosis
N-tests
111
Confirmation diagnosis
N-tests
10
1
1
10. Organisation of international scientific meetings on behalf of OIE or other international bodies
Not applicable
11. Participation in international scientific collaborative studies
Control of equine trypanosomosis (Trypanosoma equiperdum and T. evansi) in the Arsi and Bale highlands of
Ethiopia, 2006-2010 Ethiopia
Full genome sequencing of 4 Trypanosoma equiperdum and 1 Trypanosoma evansi strain in collaboration with the
Wellcome Trust Centre of Excellence for Molecular Parasitology, Glasgow, Scotland (collaboration with prof J.D.
Barry).
Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2010
5
Surra (Trypanosoma evansi)
12. Publication and dissemination of information relevant to the work of OIE (including list of
scientific publications, internet publishing activities, presentations at international conferences)

Presentations at international conferences and meetings
Abdelrahman,M.M., Elrayah,I.E., Büscher,P. What is the risk for human infection with Trypanosoma evansi in
Sudan? Meeting of the Ad Hoc Group on Non Tsetse Transmitted Animal Trypanosomoses (NTTAT), 23 May
2010, Paris, France

Scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals
Gari, F.R., Hagos, A., Alemu, T., Goddeeris, B. & Claes, F. (2010). Comparative diagnosis of parasitological,
serological, and molecular tests in dourine-supected horses. Trop Anim Health Prod, 42, 1649-1654.
Hagos, A., Degefa, G., Yacob, H., Fikru, R., Alemu, T., Feseha, G., Claes, F. & Goddeeris, B. M. (2010).
Seroepidemiological survey of Trypanozoon infection in horses in the suspected dourine-infected Bale highlands
of the Oromia region, Ethiopia. Revue Scientifique et Technique Office International Des Epizooties, 29, 649-654.
Hagos, A., Goddeeris, B., Yilkal, K., Alemu, T., Fikru, R., Yacob, H. T., Feseha, G. & Claes, F. (2010). Efficacy
of cymelarsan and diminasan against Trypanosoma equiperdum infections in mice and horses. Veterinary
Parasitology, 171, 200-206.
Hagos, A., Abebe, G., Büscher, P., Goddeeris, B. M. & Claes, F. (2010). Serological and parasitological survey of
dourine in the Arsi-Bale highlands of Ethiopia. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 42, 769-776.
13. Inscription of diagnostic kits on the OIE Register
i)
Did you participate in expert panels for the validation of candidate kits for inscription on the
OIE Register? If yes, for which kits?
None
ii)
Did you submit to the OIE candidate kits for inscription on the OIE Register? If yes, for
which kits?
None
_______________
6
Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2010