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Home / Equine Research Bank / Parasite Epidemiol Control / Bovine and equine trypanosomosis in Northwest Ethiopia: Prev...
Parasite epidemiology and control2020; 11; e00170; doi: 10.1016/j.parepi.2020.e00170

Bovine and equine trypanosomosis in Northwest Ethiopia: Prevalence, density of vectors and control measures.

Abstract: A cross-sectional study was carried out from November 2016 to May 2017 in selected districts of Northwest Ethiopia (Jawi, South Achefer, Dembecha and Jabitehenan) with the aim of determining the prevalence of bovine and equine trypanosomosis, estimating the apparent density of vectors and assessing the effectiveness of control measures of the disease. A total of 1257 animals of which 803 bovine and 454 equine were examined for the determination of prevalence using blood sample collected from ear vein of animals. The buffy coat technique was employed to determine the prevalence and the packed cell volume (PCV) value. During sampling animals were categorized into age, body condition score, sex and hair coat color. A total of 40 monoconical traps 10 per district were deployed to estimate the apparent density of vectors. To assess control measures representative number of farmers were interviewed with a prepared questionnaire and using secondary data from veterinary offices. The overall prevalence of trypanosomosis was 7.47% and 4.40% for bovine and equine species, respectively. The prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis was 9.46%, 6.13%, 8.11% and 5.98% while prevalence in equine was 7.8%, 5.3%, 2.7% and 1.8% in Jawi, South Achefer, Dembecha and Jabitehenan districts, respectively. Significance differences in the prevalence of trypanosomosis were observed in hair coat color, age and body condition score in bovine while only body condition was significant in equine. The mean PCV value of parasitemic animals was significantly ( < .001) lower than that of aparasitaemic animals. The apparent densities of vectors were 1.04, 0.97, 0.32 fly/trap/day for , and respectively. and were the species of tsetse identified. The questionnaire response indicated that trypanosomosis was found to be a serious constraint on livestock health in the study areas. The application of continuous trypanosomosis control measures particularly in Jawi and South Achefer districts which were showed an increasing trend in livestock number might be attributed to control effectiveness. In conclusion the presence of trypanosomes and potential vectors necessitate the application of sustainable and integrated control methods in the study areas.
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Publication Date: 2020-07-31 PubMed ID: 32875128PubMed Central: PMC7452100DOI: 10.1016/j.parepi.2020.e00170Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This research article describes a study conducted in Northwest Ethiopia that focused on understanding the occurrence of trypanosomosis in cattle and horse populations, evaluating the population density of the disease’s vectors, and assessing the effectiveness of control measures against the disease.

Study Design and Methodology

  • The authors conducted a cross-sectional study from November 2016 to May 2017, spanning across four selected districts in Northwest Ethiopia, namely Jawi, South Achefer, Dembecha, and Jabitehenan.
  • This research investigated on two fronts; one was the determination of prevalence of trypanosomosis in bovine and equine species, and second was the estimation of vector density, where a vector is a living organism that transmits an infectious disease.
  • To accomplish this, researchers examined a total of 1257 animals comprising 803 bovine and 454 equine, taking blood samples from the ear veins of the animals and using the buffy coat technique—a method of extracting the layer of concentrated white blood cells from a blood sample—to determine the prevalence and the packed cell volume (PCV) value. The PCV is the measurement of the amount of blood volume that is occupied by red blood cells.
  • Furthermore, during the sampling process, animals were categorized based on age, body condition score, sex, and hair coat color.
  • In order to estimate the density of the vectors, 40 monoconical (single cone-shaped) traps, evenly divided across the studied districts, were deployed.
  • Finally, to gauge the effectiveness of control measures, farmers from the studied area were interviewed using a questionnaire, and secondary data from veterinary offices was also evaluated.

Findings

  • The results revealed that the prevalence of trypanosomosis was 7.47% in bovine species and 4.40% in equine species. A district-wise breakdown showed varying prevalence rates.
  • Analysis of the samples revealed significant differences in trypanosomosis prevalence in bovines based on hair coat color, age and body condition score. However, for the equines, the body condition was the only significant factor.
  • The study also revealed that the mean PCV value of animals with parasite infection was significantly lower than that of animals without the infection.
  • Researchers found three species of flies carrying the disease, with mean densities ranging from 0.32 to 1.04 flies per trap per day.
  • The analysis of the questionnaire response indicated that trypanosomosis was a serious health concern affecting livestock in the studied areas.

Conclusion

  • Based on results of the study, authors concluded that the presence of trypanosomiasis and its vectors in the studied areas necessitated the application of sustainable control measures.
  • The research found signs of control effectiveness in two regions which exhibited increasing trends in livestock numbers, suggesting the importance of continued trypanosomosis control.

Cite This Article

APA
Dagnachew S, Mohammed S, Dessie B, Tilahun M, Ayele A, Kefyalew H. (2020). Bovine and equine trypanosomosis in Northwest Ethiopia: Prevalence, density of vectors and control measures. Parasite Epidemiol Control, 11, e00170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parepi.2020.e00170

Publication

Parasite epidemiology and control
ISSN: 2405-6731
NlmUniqueID: 101687137
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 11
Pages: e00170
PII: e00170

Researcher Affiliations

Dagnachew, Shimelis
  • University of Gondar, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, P. O. Box, 196, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Mohammed, Shemesia
  • Bahir Dar Animal Health and Disease Investigation Center, P. O. Box, 17, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
Dessie, Birhanu
  • University of Gondar, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, P. O. Box, 196, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Tilahun, Meseret
  • University of Gondar, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, P. O. Box, 196, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Ayele, Abrham
  • University of Gondar, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, P. O. Box, 196, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Kefyalew, Habtamu
  • Bahir Dar Animal Health and Disease Investigation Center, P. O. Box, 17, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.

Conflict of Interest Statement

No conflict of interest among authors and any interested persons concerning to this manuscript.

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
  1. Mesafint E, Dejene H, Maru M, Tarekegn ZS. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of parasitic infections in equids in Ethiopia. J Parasit Dis 2023 Sep;47(3):451-464.
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  2. Efa DA. Bovine Trypanosomiasis Epidemiology and Tsetse Fly Density in Jimma Arjo District, East Wollega Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. Vet Med (Auckl) 2021;12:285-292.
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  3. Raftery AG, Gummery L, Garcia K, Mohite D, Capewell P, Sutton DGM. Equine trypanosomiasis, a systematic review and meta-analyses: Prevalence, morbidity and mortality. Equine Vet J 2026 Mar;58(2):291-319.
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  4. Adane M, Teshome Y, Jemberu WT, Kebede N. Epidemiology and economic impact of bovine trypanosomosis in Jawi District, Northwest Ethiopia. Sci Rep 2025 Jul 2;15(1):22683.
    doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-90112-1pubmed: 40594968google scholar: lookup
  5. Gebeyehu S, Robi DT. Epidemiological investigation of trypanosomosis in livestock and distribution of vector in Dabo Hana district, Southwest Oromia, Ethiopia. Parasite Epidemiol Control 2024 Nov;27:e00396.
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