No abstract

Nowadays, despite the instauration of several control strategies, animal trypanosomiasis continues to be reported all over Uganda. Few canine African trypanosomiasis (CAT) studies have been carried out, yet dogs are known Trypanosoma reservoirs that share identical home ranges with livestock and serve as parasite link between livestock and humans. This study evaluates the prevalence of CAT in dogs in the Bwindi-Mgahinga and Queen Elizabeth conservation areas. This information will be useful to evaluate the possible role of dogs in transmission cycle of Trypanosoma species in livestock and wild animals. GenElute Blood Genomic DNA kit was used to extract DNA from the blood samples collected from identified indigenous dogs (n = 66). This was followed by conventional polymerase chain reaction (cPCR). Two (3.03%) out of 66 dogs were positive for CAT. One dog was positive with Trypanosoma congolense and the other T. vivax. There was no significant statistical difference in CAT prevalence rate in relation to dog’ sex (X2 = 0.379, df = 1, p = 0.54) and site (X2 = 1.031, df = 2, p = 0.60). This study reports what we believe is the first-time detection of Trypanosoma congolense and T. vivax in the indigenous dogs found in the Bwindi-Mgahinga and Queen Elizabeth conservation areas in western Uganda. The noticed T. congolense and T. vivax could be responsible for both canine and animal trypanosomiasis, and represents a serious threat to the livestock industry. Therefore, there is need for continuous trypanosomiasis surveillance and integrated management in contiguity to wildlife reserves.

Nowadays, despite the instauration of several control strategies, animal trypanosomiasis continues to be reported all over Uganda. Few canine African trypanosomiasis (CAT) studies have been carried out, yet dogs are known Trypanosoma reservoirs that share identical home ranges with livestock and serve as parasite link between livestock and humans. This study evaluates the prevalence of CAT in dogs in the Bwindi-Mgahinga and Queen Elizabeth conservation areas. This information will be useful to evaluate the possible role of dogs in the transmission cycle of Trypanosoma species in livestock and wild animals. Trypanosome tests using microhaematocrit centrifugation/dark ground microscopy technique (MHCT) followed by conventional polymerase chain reaction (cPCR) were performed in blood samples collected from identified indigenous dogs (n = 124). Four (3.23 %) out of 124 dogs were positive for CAT. One dog was positive with Trypanosoma congolense and three with T. vivax. There was no significant statistical difference in CAT prevalence rate in relation to dog’s age, sex and site (P > 0.05). This study reports what we believe is the first-time detection of T. congolense and T. vivax in the indigenous dogs found in the Bwindi-Mgahinga and Queen Elizabeth conservation areas in western Uganda. The noticed T. congolense and T. vivax could be responsible for both canine and animal trypanosomiasis and represents a serious threat to the livestock industry. Therefore, there is a need for continuous trypanosomiasis surveillance and integrated management in contiguity to wildlife reserves.

Background Nowadays, despite the instauration of several control strategies, animal trypanosomiasis continues to be reported all over Uganda. Few canine African trypanosomiasis (CAT) studies have been carried out, yet dogs are known Trypanosoma reservoirs that share identical home ranges with livestock and serve as parasite link between livestock and humans. This study evaluates the prevalence of CAT in dogs using a molecular technique for the first time in the Bwindi-Mgahinga and Queen Elizabeth conservation areas. Moreover, this information will be useful to evaluate the possible role of dogs in transmission cycle of Trypanosoma species in livestock and wild animals.Materials and methodsGenElute Blood Genomic DNA kit was used to extract DNA from the blood samples collected from identified indigenous dogs (n = 66). This was followed by conventional polymerase chain reaction (cPCR) designed with primers (ITS-CF and ITS-BR) targeting the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region for efficient Trypanosoma species differentiation. Data were statistically analyzed to compare parasite species prevalence rates in relation to site and dog’s sex using IBM SPSS Statistics 23 package at a level of significance set at p = 0.05. Results Two (3.03%) out of 66 dogs were positive for CAT. One dog was positive with Trypanosoma congolense and the other T. vivax. There was no significant statistical difference in CAT prevalence rate in relation to dog’ sex (X2 = 0.379, df = 1, p = 0.54) and site (X2 = 1.031, df = 2, p = 0.60).ConclusionsThis study reports what we believe is the first-time detection of Trypanosoma congolense and T. vivax in the indigenous dogs found in the Bwindi-Mgahinga and Queen Elizabeth conservation areas in western Uganda. It also approves that cPCR is a potential diagnostic tool for CAT detection. The noticed T. congolense and T. vivax could be responsible for both canine and animal trypanosomiasis, and represents a serious threat to the livestock industry. Therefore, there is need for continuous trypanosomiasis surveillance and integrated management in contiguity to wildlife reserves.