A cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of trypanosomosis in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State was carried out on 462 animals (361 cattle and 101 sheep) purposively selected. Blood samples were examined for trypanosomes and the packed cell volume was determined. Biconical traps were set to catch biting flies which were later dissected. The body condition scores of the selected animals were also noted. Out of the 462 blood samples examined, 22 (4.8%) tested positive for trypanosomes. Sheep had higher trypanosome prevalence of 6.9% than cattle 4.2%. The most prevalent species encountered was Trypanosoma vivax (86.4%) followed by T. brucei (13.6%). Trypanosoma vivax was also more predominant in cattle 13 (86.7%) than sheep 6 (85.7%). White Fulani and Red Bororo cattle had 4.2% and 0.0% prevalence, respectively while Yankasa sheep, the only sheep breed sampled, had 6.9%. Male cattle and sheep were more infected with the prevalence rates of 5.0% and 7.4%, respectively than their female counterpart (3.6% for cattle and 6.8% for Sheep). Young cattle (< 3yrs) and sheep (≤ 2yrs) had higher trypanosome infection rates of 5.4% and 9.4% than the adult cattle (≥ 3yrs) and sheep (>2yrs) having the prevalence rates of 3.1% and 4.2% respectively. Poor body conditioned animals had higher trypanosome prevalence (7.3%) than the good body conditioned ones (3.8%). Age, sex, breed and body condition score of animals examined did not influence the infection rate of trypanosome species (p>0.05). The mean PCV ± standard deviation of infected animals (21.73 ± 4.81) was significantly lower than non-infected animals (26.89 ± 4.37) p < 0.05.The study revealed an overall relative low fly density of 0.39 flies/trap/day and flies dissected were negative for trypanosome infection. This present study revealed trypanosome and their vectors are present in the study area. Therefore, improved Veterinary extension services and education should be implemented.

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The efficacy of two standard veterinary trypanocides, diminazene aceturate (Berenil-therapeutic) and isometamidium chloride (Samorin-prophylactic) was compared in albino rats experimentally infected with current field isolate of Trypanosoma brucei brucei (Federe strain). The study consisted of forty albino rats, divided into 8 groups of five animals each. The negative control was uninfected and untreated (Group 1), whereas the positive control was infected and untreated (Group 2). Other groups were treated intramuscularly with either 0.5 mg/kg or 3.5 mg/kg body weight of Samorin or Berenil respectively adopting different protocols. Groups 3 and 4 were treated the same day of infection with Berenil and Samorin respectively (treatment was before infection). Groups 5 and 6 were treated at patency (4 days post infection) with Berenil and Samorin respectively. Groups 7 and 8 were infected before treatment on the same day with Berenil and Samorin respectively, and re-challenged with the T.brucei brucei after four days. The results obtained 60 days post treatment showed that the difference between the efficacies of the two drugs was significant (P< 0.05). Berenil cleared the parasites more from the blood of the albino rats than Samorin. From the recorded values of the parameters (body weight, temperature, packed cell volume and parasitaemic profile), it was concluded that Berenil is a more efficacious trypanocide than Samorin, and is recommended as the drug of choice in the treatment of animal trypanosomiasis.