Getachew TerefeZewdu Seyoum2026-08-072026-08-072012-06-01https://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/8813The present studies on questionnaire and, cross-sectional parasitological and entomological surveys were carried out from November 2011 to April 2012 in Baro-Akobo and Gojeb river basins, Southwestern Ethiopia. The objectives were to describe farmers' perception of the presence, impact, management and the need of intervention programs, and to determine the prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis and its vector density in the study areas. A semi-structured questionnaire format was employed to know the perception of the farmers. Buffy coat technique followed by Giemsa stain was employed for the prevalence study whereas monoconical and NUGU traps were used for fly density study. The result of this study showed that 94.1 % of the respondents listed bovine trypanosomosis as the prime economically important cattle disease which accounts on average for 64.6% of the total annual deaths in the year 2011/2012. Estimated mean annual financial loss via mortality due to trypanosomosis was reported to be about 3501.7 ETB (200.1 USD)/household. The reported trypanosomosis suggestive signs were consistent with literature report and livestock owners strongly associated the disease with biting flies (particularly, tsetse fly). Owners also noted the seasonality of the disease and its vectors, i.e. May and June are peak risk months of the year. Chemotherapy was reported the major method to combating the problem, mean frequency of treatment being 5.7 times per animal per year. Because of the economic burden of the disease, livestock owners expressed strong interest and willingness to support for the establishment of control projects in their area. The overall prevalence of trypanosomosis in the areas was 14.8%. Trypanosome infection rate was significantly (P<0.05) higher at Guraferda district (22%) than Gimbo (9.3%). The trypanosome species identified were Tcongo/ense (53.5%), Tvivax (3 1 A%), Tbrucei (4.7%) and mixed infections (10.5%). The prevalence of trypanosomosis was significantly higher at lower altitude (mainly Guraferda), in older animals and animals with poor body condition (P<0.05) . The mean PCV of parasitaemic animals (21.05±4A%) was significantly lower (P<0.05) than those of aparasitaemic cattle (2644 ± 4.7%) and this was congruent with the high prevalence rate at Guraferda. A total of 785 flies were caught out of which 578 were tsetse flies and the remaining were Stomoxys and Tabanus. The apparent mean tsetse fly density was significantly higher (P<0.05) in Guraferda district (3.8 ± 5.2 FTD) than Gimbo district (IA ± 3A FTD).ln conclusion, the study revealed that livestock keepers are familiar with bovine trypanosomosis and its impact, the disease and its vectors are widely prevalent; there is an urgent need to launch an integrated control program through participation of livestock keepers.enTrypanosomosisfarmers' perceptionprevalenceGuraferdaGimboTsetseThesis