FieldDxSurraClinical signs, differential diagnosis, treatment and prevention in horses.
Overview
A wasting disease of horses, camels and cattle transmitted mechanically by biting flies. Trypanosoma evansi, transmitted mechanically by biting flies such as Tabanus and Stomoxys species.
Clinical signs
- Intermittent fever.
- Anaemia.
- Weight loss.
- Often fatal in camels, horses and dogs.
Predisposing factors
- Spread mechanically by biting flies, inside and outside tsetse areas.
- Interrupted feeding by biting flies moving between animals.
- Endemic across North Africa, the Middle East, Asia, the Far East and Central and South America.
- Principally a disease of camels and horses; all domestic animals are susceptible.
Treatment
- Suramin 10 mg/kg IV in horses, camels and dogs; curative with some prophylactic effect.
- Quinapyramine sulfate 3-5 mg/kg SC in horses, camels, pigs and dogs; curative.
Drugs mentioned: Quinapyramine
Prevention
1. Control the fly vectors with pesticides. 2. Screen blood donors. 3. No vaccine is available.
Source
MSD Veterinary Manual — Trypanosomiasis in Animals (Surra, Trypanosoma evansi) (accessed 2026-07-31)
A Textbook of the Diseases of Cattle, Horses, Sheep, Pigs and Goat by ELSEVIER — Surra (Mal De Caderas, Murrina)
Condensed and attributed, never reproduced whole. Open the full entry in the app.