10/09/2022
Trypanosomosis is a widely spread protozoan disease complex which affects cattle and other wide range of hosts in sub-Saharan Africa. The course of the disease may run from a chronic long lasting to an acute and rapidly fatal depending on the vector-parasite-host interactions. The disease is mainly characterized by intermittent fever, progressive anaemia, and loss of condition of susceptible hosts which if untreated leads to heavy mortalities The etiological agent of the disease is unicellular flagellated protozoan parasite of a genus Trypanosoma. Trypanosomes are blood borne unicellular protozoan parasites dwelling in various body and tissue fluids. The parasite is known for more than a century, but still control of the disease remains elusive
Several species of hematophagous tsetse flies of the genus Glossina are the vectors of African trypanosomosis and are responsible for cyclical transmission of the parasitic protozoan between numerous vertebrate hosts. The vector is distributed over wide range of habitats covering about 10 million square kilometers of potential grazing lands in 37 countries which are rendered unsuitable for livestock breeding and farming across the African content, exposing 160 million cattle to the risk of anaemia, emaciation, and death and 55 million people to the risk of fatal sleep. As a result agriculture revolution which is a key element in the fight against poverty and the improvement of food security in developing countries failed in tsetse infested areas of sub-Saharan Africa
In Ethiopia, trypanosomosis is one of the most important diseases that limit livestock productivity and agricultural development due to its high prevalence in the most arable and fertile land of southwest and northwest part of the country following the greater river basins of Abay, Omo, Ghibe, and Baro [6]. Currently about 220,000 km2 areas of the above-mentioned regions are infested with five species of tsetse flies, namely, Glossina pallidipes, G. morsitans, G. fuscipes, G. tachinoides, and G. longipennis. More than 10 million heads of cattle in Ethiopia are at risk of variable degrees of trypanosomosis at any time of the year, of which six million are tsetse borne. A number of studies have been so far undertaken in different parts of the country to determine the magnitude of this economically important disease Nevertheless, there are no published studies which assess the prevalence of this disease in Dale Wabera district.
The distribution of trypanosomes is dynamic due to climatic change, ecological disturbances, and human interventions. Some tsetse infested areas are scarce in infrastructure and devoid of human settlements. In such areas sufficient information is lacking about the status of trypanosomosis. Even in already studied areas updating the prevalence and status of the disease have paramount importance for understanding the epidemiology of the disease, to facilitate the choice of suitable control methods, and to help in planning for development programs in the area. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis in Dale Wabera district and to evaluate association of bovine trypanosomosis with anaemia.