Seroprevalence of Trypanosoma evansi in Dromedary Camels from selected Dairy farms in Benadir, Somalia

This study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of Trypanosoma evansi and their risk factors in some selected Camel Dairy farms in Benadir, Somalia. The study was conducted from July, 2018 to February, 2019. Simple random sampling was used and the studied animals were selected based on the population of Camel in each farm in the study area. A total of 200 blood samples were collected from six farms that comprised of Goorsan (36), Cagarey (31), Alkhalil (25), Albaraka (60), Mandeq (26) and Sahan (22). Blood serum was harvested and detection of antibodies against T. evansi was carried out using Card Agglutination Test for Trypanosomiasis (CATT). Of the 200 serum samples analyzed, 129 (64%) samples were positive for T. evansi. Farm level seroprevalence showed that Cagarey farm, had the highest seroprevalence [25 (80%)] followed by Goorsan 27(75%), Mandeq 16 (61%), Albaraka 36(60%), Sahan 12(55%) and Alkhalil 13 (52%) respectively. Risk factor analysis showed that there was a statistical significant difference between age, sex, body condition, farms type and the seroprevalence of T. evansi (P<0.05). Higher seroprevalence of T. evansi was recorded in camels >3 years of age (67%) compared to camels between 1-2 years old (54%). Seroprevalence of T. evansi was relatively high in females (66%) than males (44%). Camels with good and or normal body condition had a seroprevalence of 121 (65%) than those with poor body conditions 8 (50%). The results of this study affirmed the occurrence of T. evansi among camels in Benadir region of Somali.