Spatial distribution of Glossina sp. and Trypanosoma sp. in south-western Ethiopia.
BACKGROUND
Accurate information on the distribution of the tsetse fly is of paramount importance to better control animal trypanosomosis. Entomological and parasitological surveys were conducted in the tsetse belt of south-western Ethiopia to describe the prevalence of trypanosomosis (PoT), the abundance of tsetse flies (AT) and to evaluate the association with potential risk factors.


METHODS
The study was conducted between 2009 and 2012. The parasitological survey data were analysed by a random effects logistic regression model, whereas the entomological survey data were analysed by a Poisson regression model. The percentage of animals with trypanosomosis was regressed on the tsetse fly count using a random effects logistic regression model.


RESULTS
The following six risk factors were evaluated for PoT (i) altitude: significant and inverse correlation with trypanosomosis, (ii) annual variation of PoT: no significant difference between years, (iii) regional state: compared to Benishangul-Gumuz (18.0%), the three remaining regional states showed significantly lower PoT, (iv) river system: the PoT differed significantly between the river systems, (iv) sex: male animals (11.0%) were more affected than females (9.0%), and finally (vi) age at sampling: no difference between the considered classes. Observed trypanosome species were T. congolense (76.0%), T. vivax (18.1%), T. b. brucei (3.6%), and mixed T. congolense/vivax (2.4%). The first four risk factors listed above were also evaluated for AT, and all have a significant effect on AT. In the multivariable model only altitude was retained with AT decreasing with increasing altitude. Four different Glossina species were identified i.e. G. tachinoides (52.0%), G. pallidipes (26.0%), G.morsitans submorsitans (15.0%) and G. fuscipes fuscipes (7.0 %). Significant differences in catches/trap/day between districts were observed for each species. No association could be found between the tsetse fly counts and trypanosomosis prevalence.


CONCLUSIONS
Trypanosomosis remains a constraint to livestock production in south-western Ethiopia. Four Glossina and three Trypanosoma species were observed. Altitude had a significant impact on AT and PoT. PoT is not associated with AT, which could be explained by the importance of mechanical transmission. This needs to be investigated further as it might jeopardize control strategies that target the tsetse fly population.
Department of Clinical studies, College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, P.O.Box 34, Bishoftu, Oromia, Ethiopia. reta.duguma@aau.edu.et.|Department of Comparative Physiology and Biometrics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universiteit Gent, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium. reta.duguma@aau.edu.et.
Reta
R
Duguma
National Tsetse and Trypanosome Investigation and Control Centre, P.O.Box 13, Illu-Aba-Bora, Bedelle, Ethiopia. senbeta.tasew@yahoo.com.
Senbeta
S
Tasew
National Animal Health Diagnostic and Investigation Centre, P.O. Box 04, Sebeta, Oromia, Ethiopia. abebenaol@gmail.com.
Abebe
A
Olani
National Animal Health Diagnostic and Investigation Centre, P.O. Box 04, Sebeta, Oromia, Ethiopia. delesa_damenaa@yahoo.com.
Delesa
D
Damena
National Tsetse and Trypanosome Investigation and Control Centre, P.O.Box 13, Illu-Aba-Bora, Bedelle, Ethiopia. dereje7973@yahoo.com.
Dereje
D
Alemu
National Animal Health Diagnostic and Investigation Centre, P.O. Box 04, Sebeta, Oromia, Ethiopia. tesfayemulate@yahoo.com.
Tesfaye
T
Mulatu
International Maize & Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Socio-economics Program, Global Cereal Rust Monitoring system, P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. y.alemayehu@cgiar.org.
Yoseph
Y
Alemayehu
Department of Microbiology and Veterinary Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia. mygemechu@yahoo.com.
Moti
M
Yohannes
Department of Clinical studies, College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, P.O.Box 34, Bishoftu, Oromia, Ethiopia. merga.bekana@gmail.com.
Merga
M
Bekana
Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universitaet Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertagstr. 7-13, 14163, Berlin, Germany. Antje.Hoppenheit@fu-berlin.de.
Antje
A
Hoppenheit
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, Antwerp, Belgium. enjiabatih@itg.be.
Emmanuel
E
Abatih
Department of Comparative Physiology and Biometrics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universiteit Gent, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium. t.habtewold@imperial.ac.uk.
Tibebu
T
Habtewold
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, Antwerp, Belgium. vdelespaux@itg.be.
Vincent
V
Delespaux
Department of Comparative Physiology and Biometrics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universiteit Gent, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium. Luc.Duchateau@UGent.be.
Luc
L
Duchateau
D000818:Animals; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D058974:Phylogeography; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D019371:Topography, Medical; D014345:Trypanosoma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014352:Trypanosomiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014370:Tsetse Flies / Q000254:growth & development*