NL Journal of Veterinary and Animal Nutrition

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Isolation and Molecular Detection of H. Capsulatum var. Farciminosum from infected Cart-horses and Assessment of its Economic Impact in Bishoftu, Ethiopia

Author(s) : Adem Hussein Godana*.

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Abstract

Epizootic lymphangitis is a highly prevalent and economically important but less studied disease of equines of poor countries. An attempt to isolate, characterize, and molecular identification of Histoplasma capsulatum variety farciminosum from Epizootic lymphangitis-infected horses was made on three different media from 36 cases. A total of 43 samples: 22 unruptured aspirates, 10 open pus swabs, and 11 blood samples were collected cross-sectionally from Bishoftu. These study units were categorized into different categories of risk-factors to see their associations. The characterization was made with Giemsa and Lactophenol-blue stain, whereas molecular identification of the isolate was made with nested PCR. Additionally, for the assessment of economic impact and cart-horse owners’ perceptions of the disease, 40 interview questionnaires were considered randomly. In this study, typical H. capsulatum yeast cells were recognized in 96.8% (31/32) of pus samples. 7 out of 22 aspirated pus samples were successfully isolated within 3-8 weeks. Neither blood nor swab samples gave a positive result for culture and the former additionally for direct microscopic examination. A significant statistical difference (χ2=11.4, df=1, P=0.004) in the presence of yeast cells in the smear between clinical and non-clinical cases was detected. Economically, 50% (20/40) of the respondents each lost an overall, 73,105.13 ETB per-head of horse within three years of their experience and 95% of the respondents were able to describe the clinical features of this disease. So, understanding this impact, we recommend the government or other stakeholders to find the best control measures which includes vaccine production should be undertaken. Keywords: Arthroconidia, Conidia, Epizootic lymphangitis, H. capsulatum var. farciminosum, Lactophenol blue stain, Mycelia, Sabouraud glucose agar, Yeast cell.

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