Dourine
Dourine is an contagious venereal disease that is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma equiperdum. . Trypanosoma equiperdum is considered a blood parasite though it affects epithelial tissue. Dourine is transmitted through coitus and has a variable incubation period fromweeks to months or years. The protozoa are transmitted to the genital epithelial tissue through coitus with an infected individual. The protozoa then enter the blood supply through the vessels feeding the genitalia. Once in the circulation the protozoa spread throughout the body infecting epithelial tissue systemically. Dourine is seen in equines across the Mediterranean, the Middle East, North Africa and South America. In the mare the clinical presentation includes fever, mucopurulent vaginal discharge, genital edema, frequent urination, tail swishing, 2 to 10 cm plaques on the skin over the entire body, depigmentation of skin and progressive emaciation. Death eventually occurs in fifty to seventy percent of untreated cases. , making them hard to isolate in samples. Serology, skin biopsy and histology, vaginal swab and culture and the clinical signs and symptoms are all used to make the diagnosis of dourine. Diagnosis of dourine is difficult as protozoa are
Treatment includes systemic antimicrobial medication and the isolation of affected individuals.
Prognosis is poor.
Dourine is reportable in endemic regions and euthanasia may be required by law.
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