Abstract
BackgroundTrypanosomiasis is a fatal disease that threatens the economy of at least 37 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly with regard to livestock farming. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of trypanosome infection in cattle, and molecularly identified the species of trypanosomes in infected cattle and the spatial distribution of trypanosome-infected herds along the Jebba axis of the River Niger.MethodsA randomized cross-sectional study was conducted along the Jebba axis of the River Niger by screening cattle from 36 herd clusters by nested PCR using ITS-1 generic primers. Data generated were analysed using the Chi-square test at a 95% confidence interval.ResultsMicroscopic examination revealed three infected cattle out of 398 examined, representing 0.8% prevalence. Twelve animals (3.0%) were positive by PCR. Our results showed a decline in the packed cell volume of infected animals (24.7%). The infection rates were categorized as single infection in 11/12 (91.7%) and mixed infection in 1/12 (8.3%). Animals were most frequently infected by Trypanosoma congolense (50.0%), with T. congolense Savannah being the most prevalent subspecies (71.4%). Aside from the infection rate by age (10.0%) and relative distance of animals from the River Niger (56.2%), statistical differences in every other parameter tested were based on mere probabilistic chance. Spatial data showed that the disease was prevalent among herds located less than 3 km from the River Niger.ConclusionsSix species of trypanosomes were identified in cattle herds along the Jebba axis of the River Niger, with T. congolense being the most prevalent. Age and relative distance of herds from the River Niger may be risk factors for trypanosome infection in cattle herds in this area.Graphical abstract
Highlights
Trypanosomiasis is a fatal disease that threatens the economy of at least 37 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, with regard to livestock farming
398 blood samples were obtained from across the study area, three of which were screened positive by microscopy, representing 0.8% prevalence (Table 1), while 12 samples representing 3.0% tested positive by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), with distinct band size characteristics of the species involved (Fig. 1)
Trypanosoma evansi is widely known to have evolved from T. brucei, all of which were rooted on T. vivax
Summary
Trypanosomiasis is a fatal disease that threatens the economy of at least 37 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, with regard to livestock farming. African trypanosomiasis (AT) is a parasitic disease of public health concern affecting humans (human African trypanosomiasis) and animals (animal African trypanosomiasis), thereby limiting agricultural productivity in Habeeb et al Parasites Vectors (2021) 14:560 is presently estimated at 20 million [4]. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that 50–70 million individuals are at risk of tsetse bites in Africa, with about 30,000 reported cases per annum [3]. The major species responsible for animal African trypanosomiasis include Trypanosoma congolense, T. brucei and T. vivax [8]. Several reports show the existence of atypical human infections caused by animal trypanosomes [10,11,12,13,14]. Identification of Trypanosoma species is fundamental to measuring the general threat posed by trypanosome species in animals and humans [15, 16]
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