Original scientific paper

Prevalence of camel trypanosomosis and its vectors in Fentale district, South East Shoa Zone, Ethiopia

Tadewos Kassa ; National Animal Health Diagnostic and Investigation Center, Sebeta, Ethiopia
Tadesse Eguale ; Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Hassen Chaka ; National Animal Health Diagnostic and Investigation Center, Sebeta, Ethiopia

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of camel trypanosomosis and assess the distribution and dynamics of the vectors responsible for transmission of the disease in five localities of Fentale district from September 2008 to January 2009. Parasitological examination was conducted using the microhaematocrit centrifugation technique (MHCT) and examination of Giemsa stained blood smears. The only species of trypanosome identified was Trypanosoma evansi with a prevalence of 4.7% by MHCT and 4.4% by blood smear. The prevalence was higher in male (6.8%) than female (4%) camels. With regard to age, calves (less than 2 years of age) were negative; the prevalence is high (7.7%) in young camels (between 3-4 years of age) and 4% in adult camels (older than 4 years of age). However, the difference in prevalence between sex and age groups was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The prevalence using blood smears was found to be different between different localities; the highest being 7.8% for Kobo and the lowest 2% for Haro kersa. The mean packed cell volume (PCV) of Trypanosoma evansi positive camels (22.43%) was significantly lower than that of negative camels (28.13%) (P<0.05). More than 99% of the biting flies captured from the study area were flies under the genus Stomoxys, while a few others such as Tabanus, Chrysops and Lyperosia were also captured. The highest fly count was recorded in September whilst the lowest was recorded in December. The current findings should not be generalized for all camel producing areas of the country or for all seasons in the same area. The prevalence of Trypanosoma evansi might be higher during the rainy season when the fly population (Tabanus) is expected to be high. Therefore, detailed studies should be carried out involving different seasons and the relative importance of different vectors in transmission of the disease in different ecologies.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

72961

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/72961

Publication date:

20.10.2011.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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