Veterinärmedizinische Wissenschaft und Technologie

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

Abstract

Kumela Lelisa, Delesa Damena, Mohamed Kedir, Teka Feyera

A cross-sectional study was conducted from May to June 2014 to determine the prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis and the apparent density of tsetse and other biting flies in four peasant associations of Mandura district. For the prevalence study, dark phase contrast buffy coat examination and Giemsa stained thin blood smears were used. Whereas for the entomological survey and apparent density of flies, traps were deployed. The entomological survey indicated that Glossina tachnoides was the only tsetse fly species caught in the study area along 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 found infected with trypanosomes. Highest prevalence was recorded in cattle with poor body condition (7.06%) followed by medium (5.20%) and god (3.92%). This study showed no significant difference (P>0.05) in trypanosomosis infection rate among peasant associations, age, body condition and sex of the animal. The overall mean PCV value of examined cattle is 29.29 ± 4.813 (׀t׀=122.49; df=404; P=0.00). The mean PCV of non infected cattle was slightly higher (29.30%) than that of infected animals (29.27%). Among the species of trypanosomes isolated, Trypanosoma vivax was identified to be the major causes of trypanosomosis in the study area accounting for 81.82% of the total infections observed followed by Trypanosoma congolense (18.18%). Taken as a whole, the present work evidenced that tsetse and trypanosomosis has continued to pose a considerable threat to cattle of the study area warranting an integrated control to safeguard cattle production and productivity.