A Systematic Review on Dourine (Equine Trypanosomiasis)

Dourine is a chronic infectious disease that affects breeding horses and spreads from animal to animal during coitus. Trypanosoma equiperdum is the causal agent in this case. Both infected males and females have vaginal discharges that contain these protozoa. Trypanosoma equiperdum is mostly found in tissue and is rarely seen in blood, in contrast to other Trypanosoma species. Dourine is the only biological vector capable of dispersing the Trypanosoma infection, as there are no other viable options. Sometimes the disease is passed on to foals by tainted milk or colostrum meal. Primarily, dourine affects mules, horses, and donkeys. However, donkeys and mules are more resilient than horses and could still be employed as covert messengers in the future. The primary symptoms of the illness are vaginal edema, cutaneous plaques, neurological symptoms, and persistent malnourishment. Identification of the parasite and detection of clinical symptoms are prerequisites for making a diagnosis. Horses from locations where the disease is endemic should not be brought in to prevent its spread to areas where it is not present. Not much research has been done on the condition, especially in developing countries where there is a lack of understanding about it, although it has a significant and asymptomatic influence on an animal’s health. Therefore, the objective of this review is to review Dourine (equine trypanosomiasis).