A Study on Prevalence of Bovine Trypanosomosis and Associated Risks in Mao Komo Special District of the Benishagulgumuz Regional State, Western Ethiopia

A cross sectional study was carried out in Mao Komo special district of BenishangulGumuz Regional State, Western Ethiopia from December to November, 2016 to determine the prevalence of trypanosomosis, prevailing species of trypanosomes, associated risks and its vector density. Blood samples collected from 385 randomly sampled cattle (Bos indicus) was examined using parasitological (buffy coat technique) and haematological (Measurement of packed cell volume) procedures. An overall, 62 (16.10%) prevalence of trypanosomosis was recorded. The infection was caused mainly by Trypanosoma congolense 34/62 (54.84%), Trypanosoma vivax 19/62 (30.65%), Trypanosoma brucei 7/62 (11.30%) and to less extent mixed infection with Trypanosoma congolense and Trypanosoma vivax 2/62 (3.21%) and the infection rate was statistically significant among different trypanosome species (P<0.05). Mean packed cell volume (PCV) value of infected animals was lower (17.11% ± 5.42) than non-infected animals (25.42% ±3.66) and the variation was found statistically significant (P<0.05). Similarly, higher prevalence (26.35%) of trypanosomosis infection was registered in animals with poor body condition when compared to animals with medium (12.60%) and good (2.2%) body condition and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). In contrast, prevalence of trypanosomosis was not statistically significant among study sites, age categories and sex groups of study animals (P> 0.05). Glossina morsitans, submorsitans, Glossina fuscipes and Glossina pallidipes were the tsetse fly species caught and their mean apparent density measured as flies/trap/day was 1.41. In addition, other mechanical vectors such as tabanids and haematopota were captured with flies/trap/day 0.64 and 0.40, respectively. To wrap up, the result of the current finding reveals moderately high prevalence of trypanosomosis in the study district signaling the need for strategic and participatory approach to control the vector and to minimize the impact of the disease in the study district.