Parasitological Prevalence of Bovine Trypanosomosis in Kubo Division of Kwale County of Coastal: Baseline Survey

Prior to field trials of large scale tsetse repellent technology validation in July 2011, a cross-sectional survey of bovine trypanosomosis and its vectors was carried out to know the disease level in Kwale County of Coastal Kenya. A total of 584 adult cattle were examined at ten different Locations. The trypanosome prevalence in cattle with regard to age, sex, location and apparent tsetse density was investigated. The overall trypanosome prevalence in cattle in Kubo Division of Kwale County was 33.9%. Two types of infections were recorded in various parts of the Division in the following proportions: T. congolense 61.1%, T. vivax 38.9%. Findings from this study indicated that the Location dependent trypanosome prevalence can be stratified in three main levels: high (Mkongani 16.7%); very high in (Kizibe 25%, Zunguluka 25.5% and Mangawani 26.7%) and extremely high in (Katangini 32.2%, Mkanda 34.4%, Msulwa 42.4%, Mawia 46.4% and Kidongo 52.5%). The mean apparent density for G. pallidipes was 30 flies/trap/day while that of G. austeni 0.8 flies/trap/day and G. brevipalpis was 0.4 flies/trap/day. There was a positive and significant correlation (p<0.05, r = 0.82) between the trypanosome prevalence and tsetse apparent density. In view of the risk of trypanosomosis, the Division was selected for the large scale field trials of the new tsetse repellent technology validation.