Abstract:
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.
