Abstract
Animal trypanosomosis continues to impede animal production in sub-Saharan Africa mostly in locations where tsetse flies are endemic. This has ended up devastating many livelihoods where majority of the people depend on livestock farming as source of food and income generation. The true picture on prevalence and identity of trypanosome species is scanty or unknown in most areas where tsetse flies are present. This study sought to investigate the prevalence of trypanosomes’ infection in cattle and sheep using microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. The use of PCR for detection and identification of trypanosomes has increased sensitivity of diagnostic method compared to conventional microscopy. Ninety asymptomatic free range grazed animals including 72 cattle and 18 sheep randomly sampled from farmers in Kerio Valley of Elgeyo-Marakwet County, Kenya were used in the present study. Blood samples (5 ml) obtained from each of the animals were used for trypanosomes’ detection by microscopy and PCR assay methods. Microscopy results showed that only 2 cattle (2.8%) were positive for trypanosomosis infection. The microscopy results for the sheep showed zero prevalence. On the other hand, PCR results reported 26 trypanosomosis positive cattle (36.1%) and 3 (16.7%) trypanosomosis positive sheep. The PCR method was further used for trypanosomes’ species identification and the results showed that the 26 infected cattle were positive for T. congolense (12) and T. brucei (14) while the three sheep were all positive for T. brucei. The findings of the present study show that microscopy underestimates trypanosomosis detection and therefore cannot be relied upon as a tool for diagnosis. Besides, the method is weak in reporting species differentiation in a case where the morphological differences have only minor details or where the species are very close morphologically. This study recommends routine use of molecular biology-based technique for trypanosomosis detection in the Kenyan Rift Valley lowland areas.
Highlights
African Animal Trypanosomosis (AAT) affects livestock production negatively in East Africa where tsetse flies are endemic
The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was further used for trypanosomes’ species identification and the results showed that the 26 infected cattle were positive for T. congolense (12) and T. brucei (14) while the three sheep were all positive for T. brucei
The use of molecular methods for the detection of Trypanosoma sp infections has provided more understanding on its epidemiology due to its sensitivity, specificity and its time-saving feature compared to use of microscopy which is a gold standard
Summary
African Animal Trypanosomosis (AAT) affects livestock production negatively in East Africa where tsetse flies are endemic. Thirty-seven countries within the Sub-Saharan region are affected [1] and it is estimated that 45 - 50 million cattle are at risk of trypanosomes’ infection in the region with an estimated economic loss of approximately US$1.3 billion in cattle production [2]. This problem is complex in the semi-arid areas that face other challenges in animal production including food and water scarcity, insecurity and cattle rustling. The Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC) together with Ministry of Livestock Development made a concerted effort to spearhead eradication programmes of trypanosomosis in these endemic areas, a project that ended in 2011 [3]
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