CURRENT STATUS OF ANIMAL TRYPANOSOMOSISAND ASSESEMENT ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CONTROL EFFFORTS IN WESTERN AMHARA REGION

Abstract

Across-sectional study was carried out from November 2016 to May 2017in selected districts of Western Amhara region (Jawi, South Achefer, Jabitehenan and Dembecha) with the aim of estimation of prevalence of bovine and equine trypanosomosis, apparent vector density and assessing on the effectiveness of trypanosomosis control efforts. A total of 803 bovine and 454 equine were examined for the prevalence study.Blood samples were collected from ear vein of sampled animals. The buffy coat technique was employed to estimate the prevalence and the packed cell volume (PCV) values to assess the anemic status of trypanosome infected animals. Thin blood smear was made from positive animals to identify the species of the parasite. For the entomological survey 10 monoconical traps per district were deployed for 48 hrs. To assess the effectiveness of control effortsin the study area representative number of farmers and animal health personnel were interviewed with a prepared questionnaire format.The overall prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis was 7.47 %and equine trypanosomosis was 4.40 %. Among districts bovine trypanosomsis was 9.46%,6.13%, 8.11% and 5.98% and equine trypanosomsis was 7.8%, 5.3%,2.7% and 1.8% from Jawi, South Achefer, Dembecha and Jabitehenan,respectively. The most dominant trypanosome species identified in the study area was T.congolense followed by T.vivax in both species.The mean PCV value of parasitaemic animals were significantly (P<0.05) lower than that of aparasitaemic animals. Significantdifferences were observed in coat color coat, age, body condition in bovine species but onlybody conditionin equine.The entomological survey showed that the apparent densities of different flies in the study area were 1.04, 0.97,0.32 fly/trap/day for Glossina, Stomoxys and Tabanus, respectively.Glossina morsitan submorsitans and Glossina tachinoides were the only species of tsetse flies caught. The questionnaire survey revealed that control of the disease was carried out by using trypanocidal drug, traps, targets and pour-on application.The farmers believed thatcontrol practice showed an improvement on the occurrence of the disease butsustainability of control program should be given emphasis.