SEROPREVALENCE, ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS ANDPARTICIPATORY APPRAISAL STUDY OF CAMEL TRYPANOSOM IASIS IN SELECTED DISTRICTS OF FAFAN ZONE, SOMALI REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Camel trypanosomiasis is an enzootic disease that has a significant economic impact on dromedary camel producing pastoralists. The study was meant to estimate the seroprevalence and assess the associated risk factors with the communities understanding of the disease in Fafan zone. A cross-sectional study design was carried out from July 2021 to December 2021 on 570 camels enrolled following a systematic random sampling in two selected districts, Goljano and Shabelley. A participatory Appraisal tool, on the other hand, was carried out on 6 independent groups of each 8 respondents. Sera sample was collected from the study animals and tested for the presence of anti-Trypanosoma evansi antibodies by Card Agglutination Test. The seroprevalence of Camel trypanosomiasis was found to be 25.44% (95% CI= 21.91-29.22) with a comparable seroprevalence of 27.3% (95% CI= 22.3-32.7) in Goljano and 23.4% (95% CI=18.5-28.9) in Shabelley districts. Among the factors studied; camel with no history of previous typanocidal treatment (AOR= 4.89, 95%CI: 2.49 - 9.60), poor body condition (AOR= 11.9, 95%CI: 7.63 – 18.86), old (AOR= 2.68, 95%CI: 1.05-6.85) and adult age (AOR= 2.63, 95%CI: 1.13- 6.09) were found an independent predictors of camel trypanosomiasis. The communities ranked camel trypanosomias (Dhukaan) as the second most important diseases next to tick infestation (Shilin) up on both simple ranking and pair wise ranking of the diseases followed by pneumonia (Dhugato), mange (Cadho) and pox (Furuq) in descending order (W = 0.94; p <0.001). The communities also characterized camel trypanosomiasis as a disease with sign of urine odour, oedema, emaciation, depression, and hair loss up on matrix scoring (W = 0.82-0.95; p<0.05). The proportional pilling tool indicates highest disease prevalence of trypanosomiasis (11%) followed by tick infestation (8.5%) while the highest death rate (3%) and CFR (66.7%) were attributed to pneumonia followed by trypanosomiasis. Using seasonal calendar the informants reported that the disease commonly to occur during the major rainy seasons (Gu’u). Camel trypanosomiasis is a well-established disease peaking at rainy season and is a priority of concern for the pastoralists in the area. Therefore, participatory based disease prevention and control measure against the parasite and its vectors in suggested.