Abstract
BackgroundAfrican animal trypanosomosis is a major constraint to the rearing of productive livestock in the sub-humid Sudan-Sahel zone of West Africa where cotton is grown. Trypanosomosis is mainly controlled using trypanocidal drugs, but the effective use of drugs is threatened by the development of widespread resistance. This study tested integrated best-bet strategies for containment and/ or reversal of trypanocide resistance in villages in south-east Mali where resistance has been reported.MethodsFour sentinel villages each from an intervention area (along the road from Mali to Burkina Faso) and a control area (along the road from Mali to Côte d’Ivoire) were selected for the study. Tsetse control was based on deltamethrin-treated stationary attractive devices and targeted cattle spraying between March 2008 and November 2009. Trypanosome-positive cattle were selectively treated with 3.5 mg/kg diminazene aceturate. Strategic helminth control using 10 mg/kg albendazole was also undertaken. During the intervention, tsetse densities along drainage lines, trypanosome infections and faecal egg counts in risk cattle (3 to 12 months of age) were monitored.ResultsCatch reductions of 66.5 % in Glossina palpalis gambiensis and 90 % in G. tachinoides were observed in the intervention area. Trypanosome prevalence was significantly (p < 0.05) lower in the intervention area (2.3 %; 1.3-3.6 %) compared to the control area (17.3 %; 14.8-20.1 %). Albendazole treatment resulted in a faecal egg count reduction of 55.6 % and reduced trypanosome infection risk (2.9 times lower than in the placebo group) although not significantly (p > 0.05). Further studies are required before confirming the existence of albendazole resistant strongyles in the study area.ConclusionIntegration of best-bet strategies in areas of multiple drug-resistance is expected to reduce trypanosome infection risk thus contributing to containment of trypanocidal drug resistance. Integrated best-bet strategies could therefore be considered a viable trypanosomosis control option especially in areas where multiple drug-resistance has been reported.
Highlights
African animal trypanosomosis is a major constraint to the rearing of productive livestock in the sub-humid Sudan-Sahel zone of West Africa where cotton is grown
flies/trap per day (FTD) were not significantly (p > 0.05) different between the two study areas FTDs were slightly higher in the intervention area
Tsetse control significantly (p < 0.05) reduced FTD in the intervention compared to the control area
Summary
African animal trypanosomosis is a major constraint to the rearing of productive livestock in the sub-humid Sudan-Sahel zone of West Africa where cotton is grown. In the region of Sikasso, Mali – as in other parts of the sub-humid Sudan-Sahel zone of West Africa where cotton is grown - African animal trypanosomosis (AAT) is a major obstacle to the promotion of productive and sustainable animal husbandry management systems [1]. In sub-Saharan Africa, about 35–70 million drug doses are annually used for the control of trypanosomosis [10] Their efficacy for controlling this disease is severely compromised by resistance, yet new molecules may not be available any time soon. Strategies to prolong the efficacy of existing trypanocidal drugs are required to allow sustainable livestock production in the high risk areas. Since it is assumed that cyclically transmitted trypanosomes in Africa cannot persist in the absence of tsetse, vector eradication could be an effective means of eliminating resistance. Supplementation with proteins together with treatment of co-infections, those causing immunosuppression such as Haemonchus contortus, bolsters immunological competence and might help cattle to selfcure from resistant trypanosomes [14]
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