Serological evidence of exposure to Trypanosoma vivax in cattle from four regions of Colombia assessed by a point-of-care test.

Abstract

Trypanosoma vivax is one of the most pathogenic hemoparasites affecting ruminants, causing substantial economic losses in cattle production. Despite its importance, diagnosis remains challenging in several regions, limiting effective disease control. This study aimed to assess exposure to T. vivax infection in cattle from four regions of Colombia using a lateral flow point-of-care test (IMUNOTESTE®, Imunodot Diagnóstico Avançado) and to analyze its distribution according to different epidemiological variables. A total of 295 cattle of different breeds, ages, and production types were sampled, including animals with clinical suspicion of trypanosomosis and those from areas with previous reports of the disease. Overall, 48.1% of the animals (95% CI: 42.6-54.3%) were seropositive for T. vivax. Exposure was significantly associated with geographic region and production system, with the highest seropositivity observed in Santander (60%) and beef herds (57.4%), respectively, whereas no significant association was observed with age group (p = 0.179). The most common clinical findings among seropositive animals were cachexia and poor body condition. These results contribute to a better understanding of the epidemiology of T. vivax in Colombia and highlight the usefulness of rapid diagnostic tests as effective screening tools for disease surveillance and control.