Abstract
To determine and compare the prevalence of trypanosome infections in different livestock species (cattle, pigs and goats) in areas where game animals are scarce and livestock constitute the main food source of tsetse, a survey was conducted on the plateau of the Eastern Province of Zambia in Katete and Petauke districts where Glossina morsitans morsitans is the only tsetse species present. Blood was collected from a total of 734 cattle, 333 goats and 324 pigs originating from 59 villages in both districts and was examined using the buffy coat method and the PCR-RFLP as diagnostic tools.The prevalence of trypanosome infections differed substantially between livestock species. Using microscopic diagnostic methods, trypanosome infections were detected in 13.5% of the cattle and 0.9% of the pigs. All goats were parasitologically negative. The PCR-RFLP analyses increased the trypanosomiasis prevalence to 33.5, 6.5 and 3.3% in cattle, pigs and goats respectively. The majority of the infections (91.2%) were due to Trypanosoma congolense. The presence of a trypanosome infection in cattle and pigs resulted in a significant decline in the packed cell volume. The outcome of the study clearly shows that despite the availability of goats and pigs, cattle seem to be the major livestock species affected by the disease in trypanosomiasis endemic areas. The high proportion of infections in cattle could be partly attributed to their higher availability and attractiveness to tsetse.
Highlights
Tsetse-transmitted trypanosomiasis is an important constraint to livestock development in sub-Saharan Africa with estimated annual losses due to the direct and indirect consequences of the disease running into billions of dollars
Within the tsetse belts of southern Africa four distinct epidemiological situations can be distinguished: (i) wildlife zones where livestock is absent, (ii) areas where livestock have been recently introduced into wildlife zones, (iii) areas where livestock are present at the edge of wildlife zones and (iv) areas where livestock are kept in tsetse-infested zones and where large game animals are absent (Van den Bossche, 2001)
Bovine trypanosomiasis is considered an important livestock disease on the plateau of eastern Zambia, little is known of the prevalence of trypanosome infections in pigs and goats
Summary
Tsetse-transmitted trypanosomiasis is an important constraint to livestock development in sub-Saharan Africa with estimated annual losses due to the direct and indirect consequences of the disease running into billions of dollars. Areas where livestock are kept in a tsetse-infested zone and where livestock constitutes the major host of tsetse are of particular economic importance Such an epidemiological circumstance is usually the consequence of the gradual encroachment of people and their livestock into tsetse-infested areas and the subsequent disappearance of large game animals as a result of human interference and the clearing of vegetation for cultivation. It is found in large parts of the fertile and cultivated areas of southern Africa such as the plateau of the Eastern Province of Zambia. To determine the relative importance of cattle, goats and pigs in the epidemiology of livestock trypanosomiasis on the eastern plateau of eastern Zambia and to assess the relevance of controlling the disease in livestock species other than cattle, a cross-sectional survey was conducted
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
