A Survey on the Prevalence of Bovine Trypanosomosis in Bahir Dar Zuria and Bure Woreda, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia

A study was conducted from November 2007 to April 2008 in Bahir Dar zuria woreda of tsetse free and Bure woreda of tsetse infested area of Amhara region of Northwest Ethiopia to investigate the prevalence of trypanosomosis in cattle. In each study area randomly selected cattle were sampled and their blood investigated using parasitological methods. The diagnostic techniques used include PCV (packed cell volume) to measure the degree of anaemia, heamatocrit centrifugation techniques (buffy coat examination) and thin smear. A total of 600 cattle (300 from Bahir Dar zuria woreda and 300 from Bure woreda) were sampled. Among them 80 cattle 45 (15%) in Bure woreda and 35 (11.66%) in Bahir Dar zuria were positive for trypanosome infection. The species of trypanosome infected during the study were Trypanosoma vivax (64%) and Trypanosoma congolense (36%) in Bure woreda but only Trypanosoma vivax (100%) were found in Bahir Dar zuria woreda. No significance difference in susceptibility was seen between male and female but significant differences in infection rate were observed between ages. Trypanosome infections were mainly due to Trypanosoma vivax and the significantly reduced the average packed cell volume and the body condition of the animals. The study revealed that trypanosomosis in cattle is an important disease in Amhara region of Northwest Ethiopia.