Bovine trypanosomosis and gastrointestinal helminthosis in settlement villages of Bedele district, South-western Ethiopia

Abstract

This cross-sectional study was carried out from October 2011 to March 2012 to assess the concurrent infections of bovine trypanosomosis with gastrointestinal (GI) helminthes in Peasant Associations of Bedele district settlement areas located in Illubabor Zone, Southwestern part of Ethiopia. A total of 500 randomly selected cattle were examined using Buffy Coat Technique and coprological examinations. Faecal examination was done by sedimentation and flotation techniques following the standard procedures to identify eggs of parasitic helminthes. Those faecal samples that were positive for flotation technique were subjected to eggs per gram (EPG) count using Mc Master egg counting technique and the degree of infestation was categorized as light, moderate and severe. Out of total cattle examined, 21(4.2%) were positive for Trypanosoma congolense and 321(64.2%) were found to harbor one or more gastrointestinal helminthes infection. Helminthes identified were Fasciola species (51.4%), paramphistomum species (18.7%), the protozoan Eimeria species (6.2%), Trichuris species (6.85%), Trichostrongyles (11 %) and mixed infections (6%). The overall mean PCV value recorded was 26.7±3.9 and it was 26.8±3.9 in trypanosome negative animals and 22.9±3.3 in trypanosome positive animals. The overall mean EPG recorded was 172±99.6. Among 21 cattle found positive for T. congolense, 18 (85.7%) were concurrently infected with (GI) helminthes particularly Fasciolosis (38.1%) and statistically there was significant association (P < 0.05) between trypanososmosis and GI helminthes infection. Age and sex of sampled cattle were not found to influence GI helminthes prevalence (p>0.05). Infection with T. congolense and Fasciola species is the most prevalent form of co-infection in cattle within study areas. In conclusion, any attempts to control or prevent trypanosomosis or GI helminthes infection through different management approaches, need to address the possibility of concurrent infections especially in trypanosomosis endemic areas to save the losses in advance.

Key words: Bedele, Cattle, Concurrent, Ethiopia, GI helminthes, Trypanosomosis