title: Prevalence of tsetse fly and ruminant trypanosomosis in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, Nigeria.
abstract: The prevalence of ruminant trypanosomosis and tsetse flies was investigated in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area--a sleeping sickness endemic area--between the valleys of River Benue, Katsina-Ala and Donga in Central Nigeria. Analysis of three hundred and twenty blood samples showed that among semi-nomadic animals, about one cattle (21.3%; 0.213, confidence interval C1 +/- 0.06) and two sheep (38.0%; 0.380, C1 +/- 0.10) out of five carried mature trypanosome infections. Significantly lower (P < 0.05) values (12.5%; 0.125, C1 +/- 0.08) were recorded among peri-domestic West African Cross Red Sokoto (WAD x RS) goats. Trypanosoma vivax was the most prevalent species encountered; it was diagnosed in 10.3% of the ruminant population and responsible for 42.8% of the infections in all animals. Corresponding figures for T. congolense were 5.9% and 24.6%, respectively. T. brucei infections were low in cattle (1.8%) and absent in goats. Males and young stock had lower infection but the difference was not significant (P > 0.05) except between the ages in cattle. Glossina tachinoides was the only tsetse species encountered and responded to acetone odour attractant in biconical traps.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, Microbiology and Epidemiology, University of Nigeria, NSUKKA, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A U
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Kalu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uzoukwu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ikeme
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012756:Sheep / Q000469:parasitology*; D014352:Trypanosomiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014370:Tsetse Flies / Q000469:parasitology*