Prevalence of Small Ruminant Trypanosomosis and Tsetse Fly Challenge in Upper Didessa Valley, Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study was conducted in five PAs of the southwestern Ethiopia to determine prevalence of trypanosomosis in small ruminants and apparent fly density. Blood samples from 654 goats and 66 sheep were collected and examined using conventional hematological and parasitological techniques. Among the small ruminants examined during the study period 3.75% (95% CI: 2.358 - 5.141) were infected with trypanosomes. The result showed higher prevalence rate of trypanosomosis in sheep 4.5% (95% CI: 0 - 9.71) than in goats 3.7% (95% CI: 2.22 - 5.11). Most of the infections were due to Trypanosoma congolense (63%). Statistically insignificant difference was obtained in prevalence rate on the basis of species and sex, but statistically significant difference (P<0.05) was obtained in prevalence rate among different coat colors and the mean PCV value between parasitemic and aparasitemic small ruminants. The fly survey revealed that Glossina tachinoides and G. morsitans submorsitans were the prevailing tsetse fly. The fly/trap/day was significantly higher 58.8 for G. tachinoides and 0.95 for G. m. submorsitans. In conclusion, trypanosomosis in sheep and goats is an important disease and small ruminants may serve as a potential reservoir of infection to the epidemiology of the disease.