Antibody-ELISA seroprevalence of bovine trypanosomosis in the Eastern Province of Zambia

Abstract

A longitudinal study was conducted over a 1-year period in six selected villages in Petauke and Katete districts in the Eastern Province of Zambia. Starting in November 1997, 50 animals were sampled at random at each village every 2 months. The parasitological prevalence of trypanosomosis was determined by the haematocrit centrifugation buffy-coat technique, supplemented with thick and thin Giemsa-stained blood films. Serum samples also were collected for anti-trypanosomal antibody determination by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Parasitological prevalence was highly variable between villages and between visits (range: 0–28.6%; median: 3.1%). Seroprevalence was also variable between villages (range: 0–80.8%; median: 50%), but was less variable between visits. Average annual parasitological prevalence and average annual seroprevalence for each village were highly correlated [ R 2 ( adjusted for d.f.)=0.89 , p<0.01]. Seroprevalence measured on any single visit to a study village was better than parasitological prevalence as a predictor of average annual parasitological prevalence.