PREVALENCE OF SAVANNAH-TYPE TRYPANOSOMA CONGOLENSE IN CATTLE IN SOUTH-WESTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

In Nigeria, cattle have remained a major source of meat, milk, hide and cash income. However, trypanosomosis is one of the factors militating against cattle productivity causing severe losses. Trypanosomes are transmitted by tsetse flies and the southwest is tsetse infested zone and so, endemic for trypanosomosis. This study therefore, was carried out to investigate prevalence of Trypanosoma congolense “savannah-type” infection and the effect of the infection on haematological parameters. Blood sample was collected from 180 cattle, DNA was extracted and PCR technique was used for prevalence study. Haematological analysis was carried out using Auto-haemo-analyser. Data generated were analysed in a Generalized Linear Model (GLM) using SAS statistical package. The results revealed a prevalence of Trypanosoma congolense “savannah-type” species as 93.89%. There were significant (p<0.05) differences between haematological parameters of infected and un-infected cattle as evident in muscle wastage and leukocytosis. The study concluded that the prevalence of trypanosome infection has both epidemiological and economic importance.