dourine

equine disease
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Share
Share to social media
URL
https://www.britannica.com/science/dourine
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

Also known as: equine syphilis

dourine, venereal disease of horses, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma equiperdum. The disease, which involves paralysis, is incurable. Serum tests have largely eradicated it in advanced countries, where a positive test requires the destruction of the animal. Trypanosomiasis, also caused by Trypanosoma, is known in two forms, Chagas’ disease and sleeping sickness (qq.v.).