Abstract
Trypanosomosis is a major impediment to livestock production and economic development in those areas of Africa where it is endemic. Although small ruminants appear to perform better than cattle in various agro-ecological zones, the importance of trypanosomosis has not been extensively investigated in these livestock. This study was designed to investigate the prevalence of trypanosomosis in sheep and goats in an endemic area and to evaluate the performance of different breeds under high tsetse challenge and the potential role of chemoprophylaxis in the control of the disease. The results showed that tsetse flies feed readily on small ruminants, and that these animals are susceptible to trypanosomosis. The Small East African goats acquired fewer infections than the Black Head Persian and Dorper sheep used in the study. In both sheep and goats, chemoprophylaxis with isometamidium chloride (Samorin, Rhone Merieux, Annecy, France) was protective, resulting in fewer infections and higher body weight gain. Trypanosomosis caused anaemia in both sheep and goats, and animals whose PCV fell below 15% rarely recovered, even with trypanocidal drug treatment. The peak transmission period was between 1 and 3 months after the peak tsetse fly density, which raises the possibility of effective strategic prophylaxis.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Baylis, M. and Nambiro, C.O., 1993. The effect of cattle infection by Trypanosoma congolense on attraction and feeding success of the tsetse fly Glossina pallidipes. Parasitology, 106, 357-361
Dahl, G., 1979. Suffering grass. Subsistence and society of Waso Boran. (Department of Social Anthropology, University of Stockholm)
Dolan, R.B., Okech, G., Alushula, H., Mutugi, M., Stevenson, P., Sayer, P. and Njogu, A.R., 1990. Homidium bromide as a chemoprophylactic for cattle trypanosomosis in Kenya. Acta Tropica, 47, 137-144
Griffin, L. and Allonby, E.W., 1979a. The economic effects of trypanosomiasis in sheep and goats at a range research station in Kenya. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 11, 127-132
Griffin, L. and Allonby, E.W., 1979b. Studies on the epidemiology of trypanosomiasis in sheep and goats in Kenya. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 11, 133-142
Griffin, L. and Allonby, E.W., 1979c. Disease syndromes in sheep and goats naturally infected with Trypanosoma congolense. Journal of Comparative Pathology, 89, 457-464
Hoare, C.A., 1972. The Trypanosomes of Mammals — A Zoological Monograph, (Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford)
ILCA (International Livestock Centre for Africa), 1988. Veterinary Epidemiological and Economics in Africa. A Manual for Use in the Design and Appraisal of Livestock Health Policy, No. 3, (ILCA, Addis Ababa)
Jacquiet, P., Cheikh, D., Thiam, A. and Dia, M.L., 1993. La trypanosomose à Trypanosoma evansi (Steel 1985), Balbiani 1988 chez les petits ruminants de Mauritanie: Résultants d'inoculation expérimentale et d'enquêtes sur le terrain. Revue d'Élevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux, 46, 574-578
Joshua, R.A. and Ige, K., 1982. The incidence of trypanosomiasis in Red Sokoto goats at slaughter. Bulletin of Animal Health and Production, Africa, 30, 35-39
Kalu, A.U., Uzoukwu, M. and Ikeme, M., 1996. Prevalence of tsetse fly and ruminant trypanosomosis in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, Nigeria. Romanian Archives of Microbiology and Immunology, 55, 341-352
Katunguka-Rwakishaya, E., 1996. The prevalence of trypanosomosis in small ruminants and pigs in a sleeping sickness endemic area of Buikwe County, Mukono district, Uganda. Revue d'Élevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux, 49 , 56-58
Kayang, B.B., Bosompem, K.M., Assoku, R.K. and Awumbila, B., 1997. Detection of Trypanosoma brucei, T. congolense and T. vivax infections in cattle, sheep and goats using latex agglutination. International Journal of Parasitology, 27, 83-87
Luckins, A.G., 1992. Trypanosomiasis in small ruminants — a major constraint to livestock production? British Veterinary Journal, 148, 471-472
Molyneux, D.H. and Ashford, R.W., 1983. The Biology of Trypanosoma and Leishmania Parasites of Man and Domestic Animals, (Taylor and Francis, London)
Murray, M., Murray, P.K. and McIntyre, W.I.M., 1977. An improved parasitological technique for the diagnosis of African trypanosomiasis. Transactions of the Royal Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 71, 325-326
Okech, G., Masinde, A., Stevenson, P. and Ndung'u, J.M., 1999. The role of isometamidium chloride in chemoprophylaxis against trypanosomosis of small ruminants in Kenya. Proceedings of the 24th Meeting of the International Scientific Council for Trypanosomiasis Research and Control (ISCTRC), Maputo, Mozambique, 390-397
Osaer, S., Goossens, B., Kora, S., Gaye, M. and Darboe, L., 1999. Health and productivity of traditionally managed Djallonké sheep and West African dwarf goats under high and moderate trypanosomosis risk. Veterinary Parasitology, 82, 101-119
SAS, 1996. Proceedings Manual, (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC)
Vale, G.A., 1977. Feeding responses of tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) to stationary hosts. Bulletin of Entomological Research, 67, 635-649
Wesongah, J.O., 2000. Studies on isometamidium chloride: pharmacokinetics and efficacy against trypanosomosis in sheep and goats, (MPhil thesis, University of Edinburgh)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Masiga, D., Okech, G., Irungu, P. et al. Growth and Mortality in Sheep and Goats under High Tsetse Challenge in Kenya. Tropical Animal Health and Production 34, 489–501 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021241220575
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021241220575