Haematology of N’Dama and West African Short Horn cattle herds under natural Trypanosoma vivax challenge in Ghana

Abstract

Animal trypanosomosis is a major cause of economic loss in Background: livestock production in Africa. A suggested control measure is to use breeds with traits of trypanotolerance. The study examines the effect of natural challenge on haematological parameters in two Trypanosoma vivax trypanotolerant cattle [N'Dama and West African Short Horn (WASH)] herds.-specific primers were used to diagnose infection in Methods: T. vivax T. vivax an N'Dama herd at Cape Coast in southern Ghana and a WASH herd at Chegbani in northern Ghana from May to July 2011 in a cross-sectional study. Levels of haematological parameters comprising packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb) concentration and total red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) counts; differential WBC counts (neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, monocytes and basophils); and RBC indices of mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were determined in blood samples and then compared between infected and uninfected cattle.We found that haematological indices for infected and uninfected Results: animals in both breeds were within the normal range. However, the mean PCV values for -infected WASH and N'Dama were lower in infected T. vivax compared to uninfected animals. The difference was significant ( < 0.05) in p N'Dama but not in WASH. The RBC indices were higher in infected N'Dama compared to infected WASH with a significant difference in total RBC ( < p 0.05).We conclude from our findings that despite the presence of Conclusion: infection by , N'Dama and WASH cattle maintained their T. vivax haematological parameters within acceptable normal ranges, and this underscores the need for routine diagnosis and treatment so that such trypanotolerant cattle do not serve as potential reservoirs of trypanosome parasites.

The Prevalence of Bovine Trypanosomiasis in JabiTehnan District of Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia

“…In Nigeria, domestic ruminants that were naturally infected with trypanosomes had significantly lower (p<0.05) PCV and RBC counts compared to uninfected animals [36]. Lower herd average PCVs for trypanosomepositive cattle compared to trypanosome-negative cattle have also been reported from Ghana [37], Zambia [32], Cameroon [38] and Gabon [39].…”

Evolutionary Pattern of Interferon Alpha Genes in Bovidae and Genetic Diversity of IFNAA in the Bovine Genome

“…Among the African breeds of cattle, N'Dama and White Fulani showed the highest estimated diversity at the IFNAA locus, presenting high values of S and k. Our findings for N'Dama agreed with other studies showing highly divergence of this breed, compared to other African and European breeds ( 17 , 40 ). This may be attributed to its disease tolerance and ability to endure harsh environment, which is thought to have developed over time due to evolutionary forces affecting the modulation of innate immune response of the animals ( 41 ). The high level of diversity of the White Fulani breed could be related to the type of farming, since the traditional management of this breed is done by migration through large geographical areas in search of adequate pasture and water due to the harsh environment they live in ( 42 ).…”