Prevalence and Risk Factors of Bovine Trypanosomiasis in Khartoum State, Sudan

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted in dry season from April 2012 up to July 2012 in Khartoum State, Sudan to estimate the prevalence of bovine trypanosomiasis, to identify the prevailing species of trypanosomes and to investigate the related risk factors of the disease. Blood samples were collected from 271 randomly selected cattle of the eight study areas and evaluated through standard parasitological methods (Haematocrit Centrifugation Technique (HCT) and thin blood smear). Also packed cell volume (PCV) of each animal was measured using haematocrit techniques for anemia estimation. The results indicated that the overall prevalence of trypanosomiasis in cattle was 4.8% (13/271). All the trypanosomes encountered in cattle belong to a single species of Trypanosoma vivax. The distribution of the trypanosomiasis according to locality: Ombeda (13.6%), East Nile (5.2%) and Omdurman and Jabal Awlia were (0%). Also the prevalence regarding areas were Alkeriab (17.8%), Felstine (13.6%), Alozozab (2.4%), Eidbabeker farms (1.5%) and Almoilh, Aldkhinate, Sudan University farm and Soba were (0%). As for breeds of animals prevalence was (5.1%) in cross breed and (2.8%) in local breed. Females had higher prevalence of trypanosomiasis (5.3%) than males (0%). Infection rate in poor body condition animals were higher (9.2%) than good (1.6%) and no infection in very good body condition animals. < 30 animals in herd size had higher prevalence of the disease (6.2%) than ≥ 30 animals (1.3%). Regarding presence of other animal species in the farm, the prevalence was 16.4% compared to no presence of other animal species in the farm (1%). Poor farm hygiene had a significantly higher prevalence of trypanosomiasis (6.4%) than good farm hygiene (2.6%). In farms where the veterinary care was not available infection rate was higher (9.9%) than farms which had veterinary care (0.7%). Surgical operation or wounds in animal's body had higher infection rate (20.0%) than (4.5%) in no surgical operation or wounds in animal's body. Farms located close to the live stock market had a higher infection rate (11.9%) compared to distant farms (2.5%). In area where Tabanus spp found the infection rate was 6.6% compared to Stomoxys spp which was 11.8%. As for presence of ticks in the farm, the infection rate was 5.8% in farm with high ticks infestation. In farmer awareness about the disease the not aware farmer had higher infection rate (6.0%). The univariate analysis using Chi-square for each of the following risk factors was: locality (P-value = 0.084), area (P-value = 0.000), sex (P-value = 0.219), body condition (P-value = 0.009), herd size (P-value = 0.094), treatment of sick animals (P-value = 0.003), presence of other animal species in the farm (P-value = 0.000), farm hygiene (P-value = ix 0.148), veterinary care (P-value = 0.000), surgical operation or wounds in animal's body (P-value = 0.108), location of live stock market (P-value = 0.002), presence of insects in the farm (P-value = 0.108), insects species found in the farm (P-value = 0.106), presence of ticks in the farm (P-value = 0.099) and farmer awareness about the disease (P-value = 0.065) had a significant association with trypanosomiasis (P-value ≤ 0.25). On the other hand, breed (P-value = 0.543), age (P-value = 0.427), production type (P-value =0.272), using prophylactic treatment for the disease (P-value =0.355), presence of other diseases (P-value = 0.912), grazing system (P-value = 0.272), source of animals (P-value = 0.272), density of insects (P-value = 0.893), use of insecticide for control (P-value = 0.371), wild- life around the farm (P-value = 0.954), water body and irrigation canal (P-value = 0.355), vegetation (P-value = 0.534) and packed cell volume (P-value = 0.972), had no significant association with trypanosomiasis. In multivariate analysis using the Logistic Regression there were four potential risk factors had a significant association with trypanosomiasis (P-value ≤ 0.05), these were treatment of sick animals (P-value = 0.012), presence of other animal species in the farm (P-value = 0.003), veterinary care (P-value = 0.023) and location of live stock market (P-value = 0 .004). The results of the study indicate that trypanosomiasis is one of the animal's production problems in Khartoum State and the predominant trypanosome was T.vivax which transmitted mechanically. The prevalence of the disease was 4.8%