DOURINE is a specific infectious disease which 
under natural conditions affects only the horse 
and the ass. It is transmitted from animal to animal 
by coition, and is caused by a microscopic animal 
parasite, the Trypanosoma equiperdum. The first 
symptoms appear in the genital tract. The parasites 
then gain entrance into the blood stream and eventu- 
ally attack the nervous system. The disease usually 
runs a chronic course, finally producing complete 
paralysis of the hind quarters and resulting in death. 
Dourine has been described under various names 
according to the country in which it is found. Chief 
among them may be mentioned " el dourine," " mala- 
die du coit," " covering disease," " equine syphilis," 
"genital glanders," "breeding paralysis," "chancrous 
epizootic," and " epizootic paraplegia." In the United 
States the most common name for the affection is the 
short and distinctive term " dourine," which is Arabic 
for unclean. 
