Prof. Getachew Abebe, Dr. Arun K. SangwanFeyesa, Regassa2020-06-112023-11-082020-06-112023-11-082004http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/21518Trypanosomosis is one of the most devastating diseases, which afflict both people and animals in Africa. The Ethiopian government is placing a great emphasis on tsetse control activities. The control program must fit into the rural development policy of the country and monitoring and impact assessment of the control programs is equally important. The main objective of the study was to assess the prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis with regards to changes in tsetse density and to assess the socio-economic impact of tsetse control in Limu Shay tsetse controlled area of the upper Didessa valley. The impact of tsetse control in Limu Shay was assessed by comparison with the tsetse infested (Didessa) area. The study was carried out from October 2003 to March 2004 and comprised of cross sectional study on the disease and its vector tsetse fly, questionnaire and collection of the recorded data for socio-economic impact assessment. The prevalence study was carried out on 810 randomly selected cattle using the dark ground/ phase contrast buffy coat technique (BCT). A total of 180 monoconical traps were deployed along the identified localities and suitable tsetse habitats (1300-1525 meters above sea level) to determine the mean catch and tsetse apparent densities. A total of 180 family heads were interviewed by using standard questionnaire, particularly with questions covering issues on livestock and crop production and together with the socio economic data from secondary sources were used to assess the socio-economic impact of tsetse control. Survey results in the tsetse controlled area showed 7.9% prevalence of trypanosome infection in cattle with average packed red cell volume (PCV) of 25%. In the tsetse infested area the prevalence and average PCV were 27.16% and 22.85% respectively. Similarly, comparison of the tsetse infested area with the tsetse infested area showed 71% reduction in trypanosome prevalence and 9.51% increase in PCV values. The observed differences were statistically significant for prevalence (95% CI= 0.1490- 0.202; P< 0.001) and PCV (%) (95% CI= 23.623- 24.2387; P < 0.001). Tsetse fly mean catch between the tsetse controlled (mean=4.03) and the tsetse infested (mean=10.68) areas differed significantly (P< 0.05) with 62.4% reduction in the tsetse apparent density in the controlled area. No G. m. submorsitans was found in the tsetse controlled area but the apparent density (1.34 fly per trap per day in the controlled area 2.05 fly per trap per day in the infested area) was reduced by 35% for G. tachinoides. The questionnaire survey result indicated that the calving rate was increased by 35.3%. The average age at first calving (42 months), the average calving interval (20.04 months) and abortion rate (16.1%) were also reduced by 11.5% (5.5 months), 13.6% (3 months) and 39% respectively in the controlled area as compared to the tsetse infested area. Mortality rate in the herds of controlled (7.9%) area showed 72% reduction as compared to the infested (29.1%) area. The differences observed between the two areas were statistically significant. Likewise, analysis of the data revealed an increase by 80% in average daily milk yield per cow (1.67liters), an increase by 120% in average lactation yield (350 kg) and decrease in the average use of trypanocidal drugs treatments of per animal per year from 7.16 treatment in the infested area to 0.19 in the tsetse controlled area. Conversely, there was a reduction by 40% and 90%, for the productive offtake rate (sale and slaughter rate) and purchase rate respectively, in the controlled area as compared to the infested area. By comparison with the infested area oxen in the controlled area were 40% and 31% more efficient in the average work hour per day and in the average area cultivated per ox respectively. Analysis of the secondary source data showed that the number of cattle and draught oxen has increased by 323% and by 260% respectively over 15 years between 1988 and 2003. The increase in animal traction has in turn brought about changes in cultivation practices with subsequent increase in average area ploughed under animal traction by almost 800% increase and an average area cultivated per household by 400%.The average cultivated land per house hold increased by 145% as compared to the infested area. Besides, the population growth in the controlled area between 1988 and 2003 was found to be rapid at 7.2% annual growth rate. Based on the results of the present study it was concluded that a reduction in trypanosome prevalence in cattle associated with reduction in tsetse densities and the disappearance of G. m. submorsitans as a result of tsetse control improved the socio-economic activities of the people in the study area.enBovineTrypanosomosisPrevalenceTsetse flyThesis