Abstract

Molalegne Bitew, Yeshitila Amedie, Asmamaw Abebe and Tadele Tolosa

Cross sectional study was conducted in Jabi Tehenan district of West Gojjam administrative zone from October 2008 to April 2009 to determine the current prevalence rate of bovine trypanosomosis. In the parasitological survey, blood samples of 300 cattle were examined using a buffy coat technique. The PCV value of each animal was also measured using hematocrit reader. The overall prevalence of trypanosomosis was found to be 11.7% and it consists of 16, 10 and 9% in Regeb Kebero Meda, Weyenema Workema and around Finote Selam peasant associations respectively. The most positive cases were due to Trypanosoma congolense (54.3%) followed by Trypanosoma vivax (45.7%). The mean PCV value (%) of parasitaemic and aparasitaemic animals during the study period were 20.3±4.1 SD and 25.29±4.67 SD with a significance difference (p < 0.05). The study also demonstrated variations prevalent among different age groups and between both sexes which were statistically insignificant (p > 0.05). Infection rate in poor body condition animals were significantly higher than good body condition animals (p < 0.05). The present prevalent study generated valuable information on the epidemiology of bovine trypanosomosis in the study area and revealed that trypanosomosis is an important disease in the study area.