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Review
. 2025:32:65.
doi: 10.1051/parasite/2025058. Epub 2025 Oct 6.

Trypanosoma evansi infection in Tunisia: current situation

Mohamed Gharbi  1 , Meha Kamoun  2 , Médiha Khamassi  3 , Syrine Rekik  2 , Boubaker Ben Smida  4 , Jawhar Fekih Ahmed  5 , Chayma Boubaker  4 , Giuliano Cecchi  6 , Geoffrey Gimonneau  7 , Marc Desquesnes  8
Affiliations
Review

Trypanosoma evansi infection in Tunisia: current situation

Mohamed Gharbi et al. Parasite. 2025.

Abstract
in English, French

Surra is a vector-borne disease, caused by a flagellate protozoan, Trypanosoma evansi, infecting all domestic mammals, including herbivores and dogs, and, very rarely, humans. In Tunisia, it affects mainly dromedaries (Camelus dromedarius) in the southern part of the country, causing heavy economic losses due to high morbidity, abortions and mortality. Trypanosoma evansi is mainly transmitted by mechanical vectors (Stomoxyine flies and tabanids), but also vertically, orally (to carnivores) and iatrogenically. In the present paper, we review and discuss the studies published on surra in Tunisia and show that the antibody seroprevalence in Tunisian dromedaries varies between 22.2% and 37%. The review also highlights the absence of a comprehensive database containing the most relevant information on the occurrence of T. evansi in Tunisia. We also underscore the urgent need for data collection and analyses. These data should be related to different aspects: epidemiological data (spatial and temporal distribution) and entomological data (main vectors involved in the transmission and their activity dynamics).

Title: Infection à Trypanosoma evansi en Tunisie : situation actuelle.

Abstract: Le surra est une maladie vectorielle, causée par un protozoaire flagellé, Trypanosoma evansi, qui infecte tous les mammifères domestiques, y compris les herbivores et les chiens, et, très rarement, l’homme. En Tunisie, il touche principalement les dromadaires (Camelus dromedarius) dans le sud du pays, entraînant de lourdes pertes économiques dues à une morbidité, des avortements et une mortalité élevés. Trypanosoma evansi est principalement transmis par des vecteurs mécaniques (Stomoxes et Tabanidae), mais aussi verticalement, oralement (aux carnivores) et par voie iatrogène. Cet article passe en revue et discute les études publiées sur le surra en Tunisie et montre que la séroprévalence des anticorps chez les dromadaires tunisiens varie entre 22,2 % et 37 %. L’étude souligne également l’absence d’une base de données exhaustive contenant les informations les plus pertinentes sur la présence de T. evansi en Tunisie, et souligne le besoin urgent de collecte et d’analyse de données. Ces données devraient être liées à différents aspects : données épidémiologiques (distribution spatiale et temporelle) et données entomologiques (principaux vecteurs impliqués dans la transmission et leur dynamique d’activité).

Keywords: Control; Epidemiology; One Health; Trypanosoma evansi; Tunisia; Vector.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Map of North Africa showing the geographic location of the Sahara.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Dromedaries in Tataouine, South Tunisia around a drinking source. Note the presence of small “islands” of humidity and organic matter from animal faeces, representing a suitable microhabitat for the development of larvae of different blood-sucking flies.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Map of Tunisia showing the geographic distribution of different cases of Trypanosoma evansi infection in different governorates. The prevalence for each species and the technique used are indicated for each governorate.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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