Abstract
BackgroundThe Northwest region of Ethiopia is affected by both tsetse and non-tsetse transmitted trypanosomosis with a huge impact on livestock productivity. The objective of this experimental study was to determine clinical and pathological findings in young Zebu cattle experimentally infected with Trypanosoma vivax isolates from tsetse infested and non-tsetse infested areas of Northwest Ethiopia. A total of 18 cattle (Bos indicus) aged between 6 and 12 months, purchased from a trypanosome-free and confirmed to be trypanosome negative divided into three groups of six animals were used. Animals in the first two groups (Group TT: tsetse infested isolate infected and Group NT: non-tsetse infested isolate infected) received 2 mL of infected blood from donor animals at 106 trypanosomes/mL, and the remaining group was non-infected control (NIC). Each group was observed for a period of eight consecutive weeks, daily for clinical signs and once per week for parasitaemia. Postmortem examinations were done on euthanized animals, and tissue samples were taken for histopathological analysis.ResultsThe prepatent period of the disease was earlier in the NT group 6 days post infection (dpi) than TT group 12 dpi. The infection was characterized by reduced feed intake, intermittent pyrexia and parasitaemia, enlarged lymph nodes, lacrimation, reduced feed intake and emaciation. Less frequently diarrhea, oedema and nervous signs were observed in both groups of infected animals. At necropsy, infected animals showed enlarged spleen, enlarged lymph nodes, pneumonic and emphysematous lung, enlarged liver, and haemorrhages on the brain and intestine. Histopathological analysis revealed lymphoid hyperplasia of the spleen, necrosis of the liver, encephalitis and hyperplasia of lymph nodes.ConclusionTrpanosoma vivax isolates from both tsetse infested and non-tsetse areas showed a variety of virulence factors leading to the development of acute clinical signs, gross and histopathological lesions. However, the parasitaemia and clinical signs appeared earlier in the NT compared to TT infected groups.
Highlights
The Northwest region of Ethiopia is affected by both tsetse and non-tsetse transmitted trypanosomosis with a huge impact on livestock productivity
Trypanosoma vivax is the most common species found in tsetse infested and non-tsetse infested areas of Ethiopia, while T. congolense is the common species in tsetse infested areas [9]
Parasitaemia and clinical findings Parasitaemia was detected at the sixth day post-infection in animals infected with T. vivax isolated from nontsetse infested area, and at the twelfth dpi in animals infected with tsetse infested isolate
Summary
The Northwest region of Ethiopia is affected by both tsetse and non-tsetse transmitted trypanosomosis with a huge impact on livestock productivity The objective of this experimental study was to determine clinical and pathological findings in young Zebu cattle experimentally infected with Trypanosoma vivax isolates from tsetse infested and non-tsetse infested areas of Northwest Ethiopia. The extent of tissue invasion varies among the different species of the parasite [1, 2] It is frequently fatal and is a serious constraint to agricultural production in large parts of subSaharan Africa. Trypanosoma vivax is the most common species found in tsetse infested and non-tsetse infested areas of Ethiopia, while T. congolense is the common species in tsetse infested areas [9] Both species affect a large number of cattle which are the most important species of domestic animals in Ethiopia. The wide spread of T. vivax is due to its adaptation to mechanical transmission by biting flies in areas outside tsetse fly belt [5, 8, 9]
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