title: Widespread occurrence of Trypanosoma vivax in bovines of tsetse- as well as non-tsetse-infested regions of Ethiopia: a reason for concern?
abstract: A cross-sectional study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis in some tsetse-infested and tsetse-free areas of Ethiopia. From August 2010 till April 2011, a total of 1524 animals were parasitologically examined and compared by the haematocrit centrifugation technique (Woo test) and polymerase chain reaction (ITS-1 PCR). The ITS-1 PCR was more sensitive and more accurate in species identification than the Woo test. In ITS-1 PCR, an overall trypanosome prevalence of 31.0% was observed that is significantly (P<0.001) higher than in the Woo test (5.3%). Trypanosoma vivax was the predominant taxon (24.9%), followed by T. theileri (6.0%), T. congolense (2.9%) and Trypanozoon (1.6%). Mixed infections were quite common (14% of all infections). The overall prevalence of trypanosome infections in tsetse area (32.4%) was not different from non-tsetse area (30.5%) neither were the prevalences of T. vivax in both areas (respectively 22.6% and 25.7%). With these high prevalences, bovine trypanosomosis continues to hinder animal production and productivity in Ethiopia, both in tsetse-infested and non-infested parts of the country. Attempts to control African trypanosomosis should also pay attention to mechanically transmitted pathogenic trypanosomes and should adopt the most advanced molecular tests for species identification.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 34, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Regassa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fikru
authors.forename: Bruno Maria
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Goddeeris
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Delespaux
authors.forename: Yohannes
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Moti
authors.forename: Aster
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tadesse
authors.forename: Merga
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bekana
authors.forename: Filip
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Claes
authors.forename: Reginald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Deken
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Büscher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000235:genetics; D003710:Demography; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D007303:Insect Vectors; D015995:Prevalence; D013997:Time Factors; D016689:Trypanosoma vivax / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014370:Tsetse Flies / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer