Bovine Trypanosomosis: Seasonal Prevalence and Vector Density in Dara District, Sidama Region, Ethiopia

ABSTRACT In sub‐Saharan Africa, animal trypanosomosis is a wasting disease that reduces livestock's health and productivity. A recurrent cross‐sectional investigation was carried out in the Dara district of the Sidama region in dry and wet seasons to estimate the apparent density of Glossina spp. and the seasonal prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis. Study animals were selected by systematic random sampling, and a total of 388 blood samples were analysed using Giemsa‐stained thin blood smear and Buffy coat methods in both the wet and dry seasons. To conduct a study on tsetse and biting flies, 80 odour‐baited NGU traps were placed near the grazing and watering locations. The overall prevalence of trypanosomosis was 4.4% (95% CI = 2.7–7.0), of which 1.5% and 7.2% accounted for dry and wet seasons, respectively. The prevalence of Trpanosoma congolense , Trypanosoma vivax and mixed infection ( T . congolense and T . vivax ) was 1.6% (95% CI = 0.3–2.8), 1.3% (95% CI = 0.2–2.4) and 1.6% (95% CI = 0.3–2.8), respectively. The prevalence of trypanosomosis was significantly higher in the wet season than dry season (OR = 5, p  < 0.05) and in black coat colour animals than in the other coat colour animals (OR = 6.6, p  < 0.05). The mean PCV of parasitaemic animals (21.2 ± 0.5) was significantly lower than that of aparasitaemic animals (27.7 ± 0.2). A total of 931 flies were caught, of which 154 (16%) were tsetse flies, while 148 (16%) were Tabanids and 136 (15%) were Stomoxys . In the research area, Glossina pallidipes was the only spp. identified. The overall mean apparent density of G. pallidipes was 0.96 F/T/D. G. pallidipes were caught in comparatively greater numbers during the wet season than during the dry season. Overall, the results of this study demonstrated that the region's cattle production is threatened by Glossina spp. and trypanosomosis. Therefore, a sustainable community‐based tsetse and trypanosomosis control program should be put into place to lessen the impacts of trypanosomosis and Glossina activity.