A study on cattle trypanosomosis and its vectors in Gimbo and Guraferda districts of Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence of cattle trypanosomosis and assess the distribution of its vectors in Gimbo and Guraferda districts of Kaffa and Bench Maji zones, respectively, in Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Regional State (SNNPRS), Ethiopia from November 2011 to March 2012. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 490 local zebu cattle from purposively selected three peasant associations in Gimbo and four peasant associations in Gurafereda districts. Blood samples were examined for trypanosmes by the buffy coat technique (BCT) after determining the packed cell volume (PCV) and traps were employed for collection of tsetse. The overall prevalence of cattle trypansomosis was 14.5%. The prevalence varied between the two districts, that is, Gimbo (9.2%) and Guraferda (19.6%). Trypanosoma congolense was the predominant species in the area (62%) followed by T. vivax (28.2%). Statistically significant (P<0.05) difference was observed in infection rate for the different trypanosome species, and in prevalence among animals of different body condition scores (p<0.001). However, no significant (P>0.05) difference was noted in prevalence rates among animals of the different age groups, sex and coat colors. The mean PCV per cent value of parasitaemic animals (21.31±5.070) was significantly (p<0.001) lower than that of aparasitaemic animals (27.00±5.097). Glossina pallidipes and Glossina fuscipes were captured in the study area with an overall apparent density of 3.73 flies/trap/day. In the light of these findings, integrated approaches involving both vector and trypanosome directed measures are suggested for effective management of the problem of cattle trypanosomosis in the study area.