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Veterinary parasitology1996; 66(1-2); 1-11; doi: 10.1016/s0304-4017(96)01003-5

Observations on the prevalence of trypanosomosis in small ruminants, equines and cattle, in relation to tsetse challenge, in The Gambia.

Abstract: The prevalence of trypanosome infections in Djallonké sheep and West African Dwarf goats at different sites in The Gambia showed a significant, positive correlation with contemporary assessments of tsetse challenge. A similar correlation was observed in village N'Dama cattle which showed comparable prevalence values in the same areas. Trypanosome prevalences also tended to be higher in horses and donkeys in areas with high tsetse challenge compared with sites with relatively few flies. A ranking of the numbers of tsetse blood-meals from cattle, small ruminants and equines (1:0.06: > 0.03) corresponded with the estimated biomass of these livestock groups (1:0.09:0.05). Observations on the grazing ranges of livestock showed that, while cattle foraged widely into tsetse-infested habitat, sheep, goats and donkeys remained closer to the villages. This difference indicated that, under the management system practised in The Gambia, small ruminants and equines were probably exposed to a lower level of tsetse attack than cattle.
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Publication Date: 1996-11-01 PubMed ID: 8988551DOI: 10.1016/s0304-4017(96)01003-5Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research looked at the occurrence of trypanosome infections in different animal species in The Gambia, and found that infection rates increased in areas where there were more tsetse flies. It also found differences in exposure to tsetse flies among cattle, sheep, goats and donkeys, with cattle generally more exposed due to their wider grazing ranges.

Understanding the Study and its Findings

This study tracked the prevalence of trypanosome infections, a parasitic disease spread by the tsetse fly, in Djallonké sheep, West African Dwarf goats and village N’Dama cattle across different sites in The Gambia.

  • The researchers found a strong positive correlation between the incidence of trypanosome infections in these animals and the tsetse challenge, which is a measure of the presence and activity of tsetse flies in the area.
  • A similar trend was found in horses and donkeys; in regions with a high tsetse challenge, these animals also had higher trypanosome prevalence compared to areas with fewer flies.

Ranking of Tsetse Blood-Meals

The research also indirectly studied the feeding preferences of the tsetse flies.

  • A ranking was produced based on the numbers of tsetse blood meals taken from cattle, small ruminants (sheep and goats) and equines (horses and donkeys). The ratio was found to be approximately 1:0.06: > 0.03 respectively. This means that tsetse flies were most likely to feed on cattle, followed by small ruminants and then equines.
  • Interestingly, this ranking was in line with the estimated biomass, or collective bodyweights, of these livestock groups. This suggests that tsetse flies’ feeding preferences may be linked to the available biomass of different animal species.

Grazing Ranges and Exposure to Tsetse Flies

This research also found that the grazing behaviour of the livestock affected their level of exposure to tsetse flies.

  • Cattle often foraged far from human habitation, venturing into areas where tsetse flies were abundant. In contrast, sheep, goats, and donkeys generally stayed closer to the villages.
  • This suggests that under current management systems, cattle are exposed to a higher level of tsetse attack than small ruminants and equines. This stands to reason as habitation areas typically have fewer tsetse flies than the places where cattle graze.

Cite This Article

APA
Snow WF, Wacher TJ, Rawlings P. (1996). Observations on the prevalence of trypanosomosis in small ruminants, equines and cattle, in relation to tsetse challenge, in The Gambia. Vet Parasitol, 66(1-2), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0304-4017(96)01003-5

Publication

Veterinary parasitology
ISSN: 0304-4017
NlmUniqueID: 7602745
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 66
Issue: 1-2
Pages: 1-11

Researcher Affiliations

Snow, W F
  • International Trypanotolerance Centre (ITC), Banjul, Gambia.
Wacher, T J
    Rawlings, P

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Cattle
      • Equidae / parasitology
      • Gambia / epidemiology
      • Goat Diseases / epidemiology
      • Goats
      • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
      • Horses
      • Insect Vectors / physiology
      • Prevalence
      • Sheep
      • Sheep Diseases / epidemiology
      • Trypanosomiasis, African / epidemiology
      • Trypanosomiasis, African / veterinary
      • Trypanosomiasis, Bovine / epidemiology
      • Tsetse Flies / physiology

      Citations

      This article has been cited 13 times.
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        doi: 10.1155/2022/3379804pubmed: 35111338google scholar: lookup
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        doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2020.2502-2507pubmed: 33363347google scholar: lookup
      4. Vourchakbé J, Tiofack AAZ, Mbida M, Simo G. Trypanosome infections in naturally infected horses and donkeys of three active sleeping sickness foci in the south of Chad. Parasit Vectors 2020 Jun 23;13(1):323.
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        doi: 10.1186/s13071-020-04020-6pubmed: 32199454google scholar: lookup
      6. Laohasinnarong D, Goto Y, Asada M, Nakao R, Hayashida K, Kajino K, Kawazu S, Sugimoto C, Inoue N, Namangala B. Studies of trypanosomiasis in the Luangwa valley, north-eastern Zambia. Parasit Vectors 2015 Sep 30;8:497.
        doi: 10.1186/s13071-015-1112-ypubmed: 26419347google scholar: lookup
      7. Dicko AH, Percoma L, Sow A, Adam Y, Mahama C, Sidibé I, Dayo GK, Thévenon S, Fonta W, Sanfo S, Djiteye A, Salou E, Djohan V, Cecchi G, Bouyer J. A Spatio-temporal Model of African Animal Trypanosomosis Risk. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015;9(7):e0003921.
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      8. Abebe R, Wolde A. A cross-sectional study of trypanosomosis and its vectors in donkeys and mules in Northwest Ethiopia. Parasitol Res 2010 Mar;106(4):911-6.
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      9. Pinchbeck GL, Morrison LJ, Tait A, Langford J, Meehan L, Jallow S, Jallow J, Jallow A, Christley RM. Trypanosomosis in The Gambia: prevalence in working horses and donkeys detected by whole genome amplification and PCR, and evidence for interactions between trypanosome species. BMC Vet Res 2008 Feb 20;4:7.
        doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-4-7pubmed: 18289378google scholar: lookup
      10. Ng'ayo MO, Njiru ZK, Kenya EU, Muluvi GM, Osir EO, Masiga DK. Detection of trypanosomes in small ruminants and pigs in western Kenya: important reservoirs in the epidemiology of sleeping sickness?. Kinetoplastid Biol Dis 2005 Jul 14;4:5.
        doi: 10.1186/1475-9292-4-5pubmed: 16018802google scholar: lookup
      11. Sahin OF, Erol U, Sakar HF, Altay K. Molecular detection and CATL-based genotyping of Trypanosoma theileri in small ruminants from Türkiye. Trop Anim Health Prod 2025 Dec 12;57(9):542.
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      12. Kargbo A, Jallow M, Vieira TSWJ, Amoutchi AI, Koua HK, Osman AM, Vieira RFDC. Diversity of Glossinidae (Diptera) species in The Gambia in relation to vegetation. Rev Bras Parasitol Vet 2024;33(1):e012623.
        doi: 10.1590/S1984-29612024010pubmed: 38381888google scholar: lookup
      13. Serem EK, Mburu DM, Abdullahi OA, Bargul JL. A scoping review on tsetse fly blood meal sources and its assay methods since 1956 to 2022. Parasit Vectors 2024 Feb 2;17(1):52.
        doi: 10.1186/s13071-023-06114-3pubmed: 38308365google scholar: lookup
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