The burden and spatial distribution of bovine African trypanosomes in small holder crop-livestock production systems in Tororo District, south-eastern Uganda

• DOI: 10.1186/s13071-014-0603-6
• Publication Date: 2014-12-22T11:32:41Z
• Authors: Dennis Muhanguzi; Kim Picozzi; Jan Hattendorf; Michael Thrusfield; John David Kabasa; Charles Waiswa; Susan Christina W...
• Keywords: Trypanosoma vivax; Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense; Parasitology; Cattle Diseases; Animal Husbandry

African animal trypanosomiasis (AAT) is considered to be one of the greatest constraints livestock production and livestock-crop integration in most countries. South-eastern Uganda has suffered for more than two decades from outbreaks zoonotic Human Trypanosomiasis (HAT), adding burden faced by communities AAT. There insufficient AAT HAT data available (in reservoir) guide prioritize control programs that been generated using contemporary, sensitive specific molecular techniques. This study was undertaken evaluate presents small-scale cattle systems south-eastern Uganda.Randomised cluster sampling used select 14% (57/401) all containing villages across Tororo District. Blood samples were taken selected between September-December 2011; preserved on FTA cards analysed different trypanosomes a suite Generalized estimating equation Rogen-Gladen estimator models calculate apparent true prevalences while intra correlations estimated 1-way mixed effect analysis variance (ANOVA) R statistical software version 3.0.2.The prevalence trypanosome species 15.3% (95% CI; 12.2-19.1) herd level varied greatly 0-43%. Trypanosoma vivax (17.4%, 95% 10.6-16.8) brucei rhodesiense (0.03%) respectively, most, least prevalent identified.The bovine this indicates remains significant constraint health production. need implement tsetse efforts District employing effective, cheap sustainable methods could integrated other endemic vector borne diseases like tick-borne diseases.