A Study on Prevalence of Trypanosomosis, its Risk Factors and Anaemia in Cattle of Damot Woyde District, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Trypanosomosis is a parasitic disease caused by unicellular protozoan parasites of the genus trypanosoma and family trpanosomatidae. They multiply in blood stream, lymphatic vessels and tissue, including cardiac muscle and the central nervous system [1]. Trypanosomosis is transmitted by tsetse flies (Glossina species) and believed to be the most important infectious disease holding back development of livestock production in Africa [2]. Trypanosomosis is one of the major constraints on animal production in areas of Africa which have the greatest potential for significant increases in domestic livestock productivity [3]. Tsetse flies occur over some 10 million square kilometer of Africa [4] affecting a total of 38 countries. Currently, about 37% of the 147 million cattle in countries affected by tsetse are exposed to the disease. Africa produces 70 times less animal protein per unit area than Europe [5]. The disease in Africa costs livestock producers and consumers an estimated US$1340 million each year [6]. In Ethiopia above 14 million heads of cattle are exposed to the risk of trypanosomosis, 20,000 heads of which die every year. Annual estimated losses for Ethiopia as a result of trypanosomosis is roughly US$200 million, in terms of mortality and morbidity losses in livestock (excluding utilization of fertile land for crop and livestock production) and the costs included in controlling the disease. In the years 1978-1982 a total of 9,675,575 doses of trypanocidal drugs were purchased with 17,920,780.70 birr [7].