Assessment of animal African trypanosomiasis (AAT) vulnerability in cattle-owning communities of sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

BackgroundAnimal African trypanosomiasis (AAT) is one of the biggest constraints to livestock production and a threat to food security in sub-Saharan Africa. In order to optimise the allocation of resources for AAT control, decision makers need to target geographic areas where control programmes are most likely to be successful and sustainable and select control methods that will maximise the benefits obtained from resources invested.MethodsThe overall approach to classifying cattle-owning communities in terms of AAT vulnerability was based on the selection of key variables collected through field surveys in five sub-Saharan Africa countries followed by a formal Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) to identify factors explaining the variations between areas. To categorise the communities in terms of AAT vulnerability profiles, Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) was performed.ResultsThree clusters of community vulnerability profiles were identified based on farmers’ beliefs with respect to trypanosomiasis control within the five countries studied. Cluster 1 communities, mainly identified in Cameroon, reported constant AAT burden, had large trypanosensitive (average herd size = 57) communal grazing cattle herds. Livestock (cattle and small ruminants) were reportedly the primary source of income in the majority of these cattle-owning households (87.0 %). Cluster 2 communities identified mainly in Burkina Faso and Zambia, with some Ethiopian communities had moderate herd sizes (average = 16) and some trypanotolerant breeds (31.7 %) practicing communal grazing. In these communities there were some concerns regarding the development of trypanocide resistance. Crops were the primary income source while communities in this cluster incurred some financial losses due to diminished draft power. The third cluster contained mainly Ugandan and Ethiopian communities which were mixed farmers with smaller herd sizes (average = 8). The costs spent diagnosing and treating AAT were moderate here.ConclusionsUnderstanding how cattle-owners are affected by AAT and their efforts to manage the disease is critical to the design of suitable locally-adapted control programmes. It is expected that the results could inform priority setting and the development of tailored recommendations for AAT control strategies.

A Cross-sectional Study of Bovine Trypanosomosis in Sayo District, Oromia Regional State, Western Ethiopia

“…African animal trypanosomosis is a vector-borne disease, which is transmitted biologically by different tsetse flies [1,2] and mechanically by a number of biting flies of genus diptera [3]. African Animal trypanosomosis (AAT) is a major constraint to livestock and mixed crop-livestock production in tropical Africa [4]. The distribution of the disease is parallels the distribution of tsetse flies and comprises of an area approximately 10 million Km 2 [5] in 37 sub-Saharan countries [6].…”

A receptor for the complement regulator factor H increases transmission of trypanosomes to tsetse flies

“…T. brucei has a complex life cycle with a series of developmental forms, each having evolved a specialized cell surface to counteract host defences in the relevant niche 18,19 . Although reported cases of the human disease have diminished in the last decade, the animal disease acts both as a reservoir of human infective trypanosomes 20 and continues to reduce livestock production, representing one of the largest constraints on livestock productivity by pastoralists 21 .…”

Insights into the Control and Management of Human and Bovine African Trypanosomiasis in Zambia between 2009 and 2019—A Review

“…African trypanosomiasis control in Zambia has been focused on cattle and not humans [ 26 ], with nothing published on the control and management of the disease in other domestic animals. Wildlife trypanosomiasis hosts pose a risk to communities and tourists living near or in national parks and game reserves [ 2 , 7 , 8 ].…”

“…African trypanosomiasis is endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa and continues to threaten human health and food security. African trypanosomiasis has been a major draw-back to agriculture and economic development in affected countries, with annual losses in agricultural gross domestic product estimated at USD 4.7 billion [ 1 , 2 ]. The current strategy of the Zambian government to preserve natural resources and create state protected National Parks (NPs) and Game Management Areas (GMAs) has led to an expansion of wildlife populations that serve as long term reservoirs for African trypanosomiasis, and also to an increase in the population of tsetse flies that transmit the disease [ 3 ].…”