Prevalence Rate of Tseste Transmitted Donkey Trypanosomosis in Dale Wabera District, Western Ethiopia

A cross sectional investigation of tsetse transmitted donkey trypanosomosis was undertaken in ten Peasant Associations (PAs) of Dale Wabera district, Western Ethiopia during November, 2007 to March, 2008 to determine prevalence of tsetse transmitted trypanosomosis in donkeys. Blood samples from 255 randomly selected donkeys were examined using parasitological methods. Among the examined donkeys during the study period, 16 donkeys 6.27%, (95% CI: 3.2779, 9.2710) were infected with trypanosomes. Most of the infections were due to Trypanosoma congolense (68.75%) followed by T. brucei (31.25%). There was no significant difference in the prevalence rate between male 8.23%, (95% CI: 4.0608, 12.4097) and females 2.35%, (95% CI: 0.0, 5.64180). There was significant difference (P<0.05) in infection rate between the lowland (below 1400masl) 9.7%, (95% CI: 4.2, 15.3) and midland (above 1400masl) areas 3.52%, (95% CI: 0.45, 6.6). Mean PCV in males and females were 32.5 and 33.3%, respectively. The mean PCV values of parasitaemic and aparasitaemic animals during the study period were 31.3 and 33%, respectively. The range of PCV values in parasitaemic animals was between 25-38% and in aparasitaemic animals between 17-53%. In conclusion, the study revealed that tsetse transmitted donkey trypanosomosis is an important disease and donkeys may serve as a potential reservoir of infection to the epidemiology of the disease.