title: The role of domestic animals in the epidemiology of human African trypanosomiasis in Ngorongoro conservation area, Tanzania.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Trypanosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by the trypanosome parasite and transmitted by the tsetse fly vector. In Sub-saharan Africa, both the human and animal variants of the disease are a great obstacle towards agriculture, development, and health. In order to better understand and therefore combat Trypanosomiasis, characterizing disease hotspots across species is critical.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, 193 samples from cattle, sheep, and goats were collected from eight sites. Samples were taken from animals belonging mostly to Maasai herdsmen in the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area (NCA) and analysed for the presence of trypanosomiasis infection using PCR techniques. Those that tested positive for T. brucei parasite were further tested using SRA LAMP technique to check for T. brucei rhodesiense, the human infective subspecies of parasite.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our study found a high incidence of Trypanosoma brucei infections across species. Of animals tested, 47 % of cattle, 91.7 % of sheep, and 60.8 % of goats were infected. Most of the infections were of the T. brucei species. We also identified sheep and goats as carriers of the T. brucei rhodesiense subspecies, which causes acute human trypanosomiasis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Together, these results point toward the need for stricter control strategies in the area to prevent disease outbreak.
authors.affiliation: Fulbright Student, Fulbright Institute of International Education, 809 United Nations Plaza, New York, 10017, NY, USA. juan.ruiz@imm.ox.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Juan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.affiliation: Vector & Vector Borne Diseases Research Institute, Majani Mapana, Off Korogwe Road, Box 1026, TANGA, TANZANIA. nyiungilili@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Hamisi S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Nyingilili
authors.affiliation: Vector & Vector Borne Diseases Research Institute, Majani Mapana, Off Korogwe Road, Box 1026, TANGA, TANZANIA. geofreymbata@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Geofrey H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Mbata
authors.affiliation: Vector & Vector Borne Diseases Research Institute, Majani Mapana, Off Korogwe Road, Box 1026, TANGA, TANZANIA. maleleimna@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Imna I
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Malele
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000635:transmission*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000635:transmission*; D006041:Goats; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000635:transmission*; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D014345:Trypanosoma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014352:Trypanosomiasis / Q000635:transmission*; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000635:transmission*; D014370:Tsetse Flies / Q000469:parasitology*