The Prevalence of Bovine Trypanosomiasis in JabiTehnan District of Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

Tsetse flies in Ethiopia are confined to western and southwestern parts of the country between 33°C and 38°C E longitude and 5°C and 12°C N latitude. It is estimated to cover an area of 140, 000, 220, 000 km2 [7]. Tsetse infested areas follow the major river systems; namely, Abay (Blue Nile), Baro, Akobo, Didessa, Ghibe and Omo river systems [8]. Five species of Glossina (Glossina morsitans submorsitans, G. pallidipes, G. tachinozdes, G.f. fuscipes and G. longipennis) have been recorded in Ethiopia [3]. According to National Tsetse and Trypanosomosis Investigation and Control Center [7], tsetse transmitted animal trypanosomosis still remains as one of the largest causes of livestock production losses in Ethiopia. The effects of trypanosomosis is not only the direct losses resulting from mortality, morbidity, infertility of the Abstract Cross sectional study was conducted in Jabi Tehnan District of West Gojjam Administrative Zone of Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia to determine the prevalence of bovine trypanosomiasis. In the parasitological survey, blood samples of 164 cattle were examined using a buffy coat technique. The Packed Cell Volume (PVC) value of each animal was also measured using hematocrit reader. The overall prevalence of trypanosomiasis was found to be 15.24% and it consists of 9.76% and 20.73% in Adankegne and Ergib peasants' association, respectively (X 2 =5.783, p=0.056). The most positive cases were due to Trypanosoma congolense (T. congolense ) (80%) followed by Trypanosoma vivax (T. vivax) (20%). The mean(PCV) values of parasitaemic and aparasitaemic animals during the study period were 20.75% and 25.07%, respectively. The variation in mean PCV values were statistically significant (p=0.01). The study also demonstrated statistically significant (X2=13.886, p=0.001) variations in prevalence between sexes of cattle, which were 10.67% and 19.1% in female and male animals, respectively. The present prevalent study generated valuable information on the epidemiology of bovine trypanosomosis in the study area and revealed that trypanosomosis was an important disease affecting the livestock production.