Nagana
Encyclopedia
Nagana, also known as nagana pest or animal African trypanosomiasis, is a disease of vertebrate animals. The disease is caused by trypanosomes
of several species in the genus Trypanosoma
. The trypanosomes infect the blood of the vertebrate host, causing fever, weakness, and lethargy, which lead to weight loss and anemia; in some animals the disease is fatal unless treated. The trypanosomes are transmitted by tsetse
flies.
An interesting feature is the remarkable resistance to nagana pathology shown by some breeds of cattle, notably the N'Dama
- a West African Bos taurus breed. This contrasts with the susceptibility shown by East African Bos indicus cattle such as the zebu
. Most wild African animals are also resistant.
This disease is the nonhuman animal counterpart of human African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness.
Trypanosoma
Trypanosoma is a genus of kinetoplastids , a monophyletic group of unicellular parasitic flagellate protozoa. The name is derived from the Greek trypano and soma because of their corkscrew-like motion. All trypanosomes are heteroxenous and are transmitted via a vector...
of several species in the genus Trypanosoma
Trypanosoma
Trypanosoma is a genus of kinetoplastids , a monophyletic group of unicellular parasitic flagellate protozoa. The name is derived from the Greek trypano and soma because of their corkscrew-like motion. All trypanosomes are heteroxenous and are transmitted via a vector...
. The trypanosomes infect the blood of the vertebrate host, causing fever, weakness, and lethargy, which lead to weight loss and anemia; in some animals the disease is fatal unless treated. The trypanosomes are transmitted by tsetse
Tsetse fly
Tsetse , sometimes spelled tzetze and also known as tik-tik flies, are large biting flies that inhabit much of mid-continental Africa between the Sahara and the Kalahari deserts. They live by feeding on the blood of vertebrate animals and are the primary biological vectors of trypanosomes, which...
flies.
An interesting feature is the remarkable resistance to nagana pathology shown by some breeds of cattle, notably the N'Dama
N'Dama
N'Dama are a breed of cattle from West Africa, of the Bos taurus-type. Other names for them include Boenca or Boyenca , Fouta Jallon, Fouta Longhorn, Fouta Malinke, Futa, Malinke, Mandingo , N'Dama Petite...
- a West African Bos taurus breed. This contrasts with the susceptibility shown by East African Bos indicus cattle such as the zebu
Zebu
Zebu , sometimes known as humped cattle, indicus cattle, Cebu or Brahmin cattle are a type of domestic cattle originating in South Asia, particularly the Indian subcontinent. They are characterised by a fatty hump on their shoulders, drooping ears and a large dewlap...
. Most wild African animals are also resistant.
This disease is the nonhuman animal counterpart of human African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness.