PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS OF TRYPANOSOMOSIS IN CA MElUS DROMEDARIES IN SELECTED DISTRICTS OF AFAR NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE, NORTH EASTERN ETHIOPIA Authors:

Camel trypanosomosis or surra, is a life-threatening disease caused by Trypanosoma evansi, with negative impacts on health, Production and working efficiency of camels in different camelrearing areas of the world including Ethiopia. A cross sectional study was carried out from November 2016 to May 2017 with the aim of estimating the prevalence of camel trypanosomiasis (surra) and assessing of associated risk factors in Dubti and Asayita districts of Afar region, Ethiopia. Blood samples were collected from randomly selected 200 camels. Wet film blood smears and Giemsa-stain were used for the detection of trypanosomes. Out of 200 examined camels, 9(4.5%) were positive for Trypanosoma evansi. The higher prevalence of the disease was recorded in Dubti (6.97%) than in Asayita (2.63%). Camels at the age of > 4 years were encountered highest infection (7.47%), followed by <4 years old camels (1.07%), respectively. According to logistic regression analysis, previously aborted camels were found at high risk (p= 0.698; OR=5.11, 95% CI = 1.17422.317). The Chi-square analysis showed that, there was no statistically significant difference between body condition categories and herd size of camels with the occurrence of the disease (X=3.839; p=0.147 ,) and (X=0.718; p= 0.698) respectively. The mean PCV was lower (20.8%) in anemic animal as compared to non-anemic animals (27.4%). The result of this study revealed that camel trypanosomosis was prevalent in the study area. Thus, designing of the control and prevention strategies with further identifying risk factors is desirable.

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