Association of Trypanosoma theileri with peritonitis in a pregnant cross-bred cow: a case report

This clinical case report deals with a very rare case of the detection of Trypanosoma theileri in the peritoneal fluid of a seven-year-old eight month pregnant cross-bred cow in fourth parity showing frank peritonitis. Peritoneal tab cytology revealed chronic active peritonitis and the presence of polymorphic T. theileri organisms. The parasite was also occasionally detected in blood smears. The protozoan, considered by and large non-pathogenic, has previously been detected in aberrant body sites, other than the peritoneal cavity. A perusal of the available literature indicates that this is the first report of this large stercorarrian trypanosome associated with peritonitis, which was characterized by infiltration of mononuclear cells and neutrophils, as well as a significant number of intact and degranulating eosinophils, not usually seen in protozoan infections.