Assessing the impact of Trypanosoma spp. in cattle and its vector infestation in controlled and uncontrolled Kebeles in Kucha Wereda, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was undertaken in Kucha Woreda to assess the impact of Trypanosoma spp. on cattle and its vector infestation rate using cross-sectional study design. The study was done from November 2016 to June 2017 on 384 local cattle using buffy coat method and tsetse fly density was seen in intervention area with non-controlled area. The overall infection rate 4.17% (N=16) showed an insignificant (p>0.05) difference of prevalence rate in animal with different body condition score. Medium body condition animals were the most affected animal group. The study also revealed that adult (4.22%) and male (6.12%) animals are relatively susceptible to bovine trypanosomosis than young (4.00%) and female (2.95%) animals. Animals with PCV value of 21.56 and 26.32% were found to be parasitaemic and aparasitemic cattle, respectively. In both research site, 20 NGU trap was deployed to see the vector infestation and only Glossina pallidipes was found together with mechanical vectors. 2.86 and 26.27 FTD were found in both controlled and uncontrolled kebele, respectively, this big difference resulted in uncontrolled Kodo Wono kebele due to absence of intervention by Arba Minch tsetse fly suppression site. The total tsetse fly infestation rate in the area was found to be 14.67 FTD.  Due to its adverse effect on cattle production, parasitic and vector control and prevention mechanism should be in place especially in those kebele neighbors to the controlled kebele. Key words: Cattle, Kucha, NGU trap, trypanosoma, prevalence, vector.