Assessment of Prevalence and Host-Related Risk Factors of Camel Trypanosomosis in Selected Districts of Afar Pastoral Area, North East Etihiopla
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Date
2012-06-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
A cross-sectional study was conducted in two districts of Afar region eastern Ethiopia from
November 2011 to April 2012 to estimate the prevalence and host- related risk factors for camel
trypanosomosis. Accordingly, blood samples were collected from randomly selected 400 camels
and examined for parasite detection by Giemsa stained thin blood smear, presence of
agglutinating antibodies against T. evansi using card agglutination test for trypanosomosis
(CA TT/T. evansi) and ITS-1 PCR test. The overall prevalence of 2 %, 24 %, and 30.5 % using
thin blood smear examination, CATT/T. evansi and ITS's-1PCR tests, respectively were recorded.
T. evansi (20%) was found to be the prominent trypanosome affecting camels followed by T.
vivax (7.5%) as detected by ITS-1 PCR in the study districtes. Pregnant camels (OR= 2.74, CI:
1.37- 5.50) and lactating camels (OR= 2.6, CI: 1.34-5.06) were 2.7 and 2.6 times more likely to be
infected with trypanosomes compared to non pregnant and non lactating camels, respectively.
While camels with poor body condition OR of 2.96 (CI: 1.55- 5.67) were three times more likely
to be infected compared to camels with moderate body condition. PCR detected infections in 114
(29%) camels out of 392 camels which were negative based on the parasitological method.
Consequently, PCR technique is more sensitive method for diagnosis of trypanosome infected
camels than parasitological techniques, and can detect low parasitemic camels in chronic cases.
From the results of the present study it can be inferred that camel trypanosomosis is endemic in
Chifra and Dewe districts of Afar region, Ethiopia where it demands further study on
identification of the principal vector species responsible for transmission and appropriate control
and preventive measure should be applied to circumvent the impact of camel trypanosomosis in
the surveyed districts
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Keywords
Camel, CATT/T.evansi, Ethiopia, ITSI PCR, Prevalence, Risk factors, Trypanosomes