PREVALENCE OF BOVINE TRYPANOSOMOSIS AND ITS ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS IN ARBA MINCH ZURIA DISTRICT, GAMO ZONE, SOUTH ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Bovine Trypanosomosis is a vector-transmitted infection of animals triggered by blood borne parasites called trypanosomes. A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of bovine trypanosomosis Arba Minch Zuria District, Gamo Zone, South Ethiopia. Blood samples from a total of 292 cattle were randomly selected from the study population and examined for parasitological study using a buffy coat and Giemsa techniques. An overall 4.81% prevalence of trypanosomosis was recorded in study areas. The highest proportion of the infections was caused by T. congolense (78.6%) followed by T. vivax (21.4%). The prevalence difference did not show statistical significance (P>0.05) between age groups, and similarly, the same scenario was observed between sex groups. The prevalence of trypanosomosis on the bases of body condition was 7.6% for poor, and 3.1% for medium. Agonizingly, no positive case was recorded among animals of good body condition. There was statistically significant difference (P< 0.05) lower than that of aparasitemic cattle (19.3%). This study identified age, sex, body coat color, and body condition, as risk factors for the occurrence of trypanosomosis in cattle. This survey showed that trypanosomosis is still a core problem for livestock production of the study area. Hence, applicable management techniques of the disease and its vector should be implemented and further investigation involving molecular technique should be conducted in different seasons