Prevalence of Trypanosoma congolense and Trypanosoma vivax in Lira District, Uganda

Abstract

Trypanosomes are the causative agents of animal African trypanosomiasis (AAT) and human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), the former affecting domestic animals prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa. The main species causing AAT in cattle are T. congolense, T. vivax, and T. b. brucei. Northern Uganda has been politically unstable with no form of vector control in place. The return of displaced inhabitants led to the restocking of cattle from AAT endemic areas. It was thus important to estimate the burden of trypanosomiasis in the region. This study was designed to compare the prevalence of animal African trypanosomes in cattle in Lira District using microscopy and polymerase chain reaction amplification (PCR) methods. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 254 cattle from the three villages of Acanakwo A, Barropok, and Acungkena in Lira District, Uganda, were selected by simple random sampling technique and screened for trypanosomiasis using microscopy and PCR methods. The prevalence of trypanosomiasis according to microscopic results was 5/254 (2.0%) as compared to 11/254 (4.3%) trypanosomiasis prevalence according to PCR analysis. The prevalence of trypanosomiasis infection in the animal studied is 11/254 (4.3%). Trypanosoma congolense was the most dominant trypanosome species with a proportion of 9/11 (81.8%), followed by T. vivax 1/11 (9.1%) and mixed infection of T. congolense/T. vivax1/11 (9.1%). Barropok village had the highest prevalence of trypanosomiasis with 6/11 (54.5%). There is a statistically significant relationship ( OR = 6.041 ; 95% CI: 1.634-22.331; p < 0.05 ) between abnormal PCV and trypanosome infection. Polymerase reaction amplification was the most reliable diagnostic method due to its high sensitivity and specificity as compared to the conventional microscopic method. Polymerase reaction amplification appears to have adequate accuracy to substitute the use of a microscope where facilities allow. This study, therefore, underscores the urgent need for local surveillance schemes more especially at the grassroots in Uganda to provide data for reference guideline development needed for the control of trypanosomiasis in Uganda.

Bovine Trypanosomiasis Epidemiology and Tsetse Fly Density in Jimma Arjo District, East Wollega Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

“…The higher proportion of T. congolense (80.55%) in all PAs in the current study was inconsistent with the report by Katabazi et al 24 who reported 81.8% T. congolense from the total trypanososomes detected. Similarly, highest prevalence rate of T. congolense (59.6%) was indicated by Megersa et al 28 This high prevalence of T. Congolense infection in cattle may be because of high serodemes (serological variation) of T. congolense as compared to other Trypanosoma species and development of immune response improvement against T. vivax by infected animals (Sinshaw et al).…”

“…There was a statistically significant difference between both sexes (P<0.05). Katabazi et al,24 from Lira District of Uganda and 4.17% by Kivali et al,25 from Western Kenya. Similarly, Gerem et al26 reported the overall prevalence of 4.5% of camel trypanosomiasis from Asayita and Dubti area of Afar region.…”

Transcriptomic profiling of Trypanosoma congolense mouthpart parasites from naturally infected flies

“…T. congolense is one of the most prevalent and pathogenic African trypanosome species in the ‘tsetse belt’ [ 1 , 31 33 ]. Its development in the tsetse fly is essential for transmission and successful establishment in the mammalian host.…”

Therapeutic efficacy of β-sitosterol treatment on Trypanosoma congolense infection, anemia development, and trans-sialidase (TconTS1) gene expression

“…Among the species mentioned, T. congolense has been considered the second most virulent and the most pathogenic species in cattle leading to AAT ( Katabazi et al, 2020 ). After infection, the parasite develops extracellularly and interacts with circulating erythrocytes and vital organs of the infected host thereby causing profound damage at the adhesion sites.…”