Livestock farmers’ perception and epidemiology of bovine trypanosomosis in Kwale District, Kenya

Abstract

We did cross-sectional surveys in Kwale District, Kenya to determine the epidemiology of bovine trypanosomosis and livestock owners' perceptions of the disease. The surveys involved relative importance of trypanosomosis, examination of the current disease constraints, current control practices and drug-use patterns. Informal meetings were held with farmers and cattle census undertaken. Tsetse-fly densities and trypanosomosis prevalences in cattle were determined. A total of 132 farmers were interviewed. Trypanosomosis, anaplasmosis, East Coast fever, foot-and-mouth diseases were reported to be the major constraints to livestock production. Trypanosomosis was the most important compared to other diseases. Chemotherapy was the most widely used method of controlling the disease. Farmer-based tsetse-control technologies were poorly adopted. Respondents were quite knowledgeable on the symptoms, causes and treatment of trypanosomosis. Glossina austeni, G. brevipalpis and G. pallidipes were found in the area; the latter was the most common (0.2-738 flies/trap). Trypanosoma congolense and T. vivax were found in cattle with the former more prevalent. Infection prevalences in cattle varied between 0 and 25% (median: 22%).

Parasitological Prevalence of Bovine Trypanosomosis in Kubo Division of Kwale County of Coastal: Baseline Survey

“…The parasitological examination revealed a prevalence rate of 33.9% for bovine trypanosomosis with T. congolense 56.06% and Trypanosoma vivax 43.94% being the pathogenic trypanosomes identified. This study is in agreement with the findings of other researchers in various parts of Africa (Leak, 1999;McDermott et al, 2003), but our finding differed with previous data collected in the same Division by Ohaga et al (2007) and also from Orma Boran cattle raised in Galana Ranch (Coastal Province in Kenya), over the past decade (1990)(1991)(1992)(1993)(1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000) indicated that there were significantly higher T. vivax infections in cattle as compared to T. congolense infections (Bett et al, 2004). Probably Localities where infections were due to T. vivax could be an indication of the presence of other potential haematophagus insect vectors other than tsetse flies.…”

“…Result of tsetse and biting flies apparent densities confirm earlier findings by Ohaga et al (2007) which observed that G. austeni, G. brevipalpis, G. pallidipes and biting flies were present in the survey area. Great variability in tsetse apparent densities observed by location could be explained by the fragmentation of tsetse habitat along riparian vegetation as described by Rocque et al (2001).…”

“…There is evidence that noncyclically transmitted T. vivax infection has been detected in other tsetse-free areas in Africa (Roeder et al, 1984). With a disease prevalence rate of 33.9%, bovine trypanosomosis is seen to be a constraint to development in the region; this is supported by earlier research findings (Ohaga et al, 2007) who found a prevalence of 25% in the County and also (Murilla et al, 1998;Mugunieri and Murilla, 2003;Muraguri et al, 2005). However, earlier reports also indicate that the disease is only important to few farmers (11.3%) in Kwale County (Machila et al, 2003).…”

Farmers’ perception of impacts of bovine trypanosomosis and tsetse fly in selected districts in Baro-Akobo and Gojeb river basins, Southwestern Ethiopia

“…This coupled with their knowledge on the signs of the disease and treatment suggests that the farmers have comparable understanding of the problem as reported earlier [9,25,31] in other African countries.…”

“…Similarly, studies conducted in tsetse-infested areas of Ethiopia [10,13,26,27], Kenya [9,25,33] and other west African countries [31] have revealed that most of the interviewed livestock farmers were able to mention the common symptoms that are used as diagnostic tool for trypanosomosis suspected cases.…”