Prevalence of Bovine Trypanosomosis and Apparent Density of Tsetse and Other Biting Flies in Mandura District, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted from May to June 2014 to determine the prevalence of bovinetrypanosomosis and the apparent density of tsetse and other biting flies in four peasant associations of Manduradistrict. For the prevalence study, dark phase contrast buffy coat examination and Giemsa stained thin bloodsmears were used. Whereas for the entomological survey and apparent density of flies, traps were deployed. Theentomological survey indicated that Glossina tachnoides was the only tsetse fly species caught in the study areaalong with other biting flies like Haematopota, Stomoxys and Tabanus. Apparent tsetse flies density of 0.06 flies/trap/day was recorded in the district. For the prevalence study, out of a total of 405 cattle examined, 22 (5.43%) were foundinfected with trypanosomes. Highest prevalence was recorded in cattle with poor body condition (7.06%) followed bymedium (5.20%) and god (3.92%). This study showed no significant difference (P>0.05) in trypanosomosis infectionrate among peasant associations, age, body condition and sex of the animal. The overall mean PCV value ofexamined cattle is 29.29 ± 4.813 (?t?=122.49; df=404; P=0.00). The mean PCV of non infected cattle was slightlyhigher (29.30%) than that of infected animals (29.27%). Among the species of trypanosomes isolated, Trypanosomavivax was identified to be the major causes of trypanosomosis in the study area accounting for 81.82% of the totalinfections observed followed by Trypanosoma congolense (18.18%). Taken as a whole, the present work evidencedthat tsetse and trypanosomosis has continued to pose a considerable threat to cattle of the study area warranting anintegrated control to safeguard cattle production and productivity