Vol. 9, Issue 3, Part A (2024)

Author(s): JW Magona, J Walubengo, DK Kakaire, JT Odimin and AM Gidudu

Abstract: As tsetse invaded new areas in Uganda during the 20^th Century, several control campaigns were launched. Amongst them was the EU-funded Farming in Tsetse-Controlled Areas (FITCA) project. The control campaign, implemented in an area-wide manner, covered 12 districts in Southeast Uganda, an area of 25,883 Km² with an estimated cattle population of 904,075. It combined insecticide-impregnated tsetse traps with pour-on application and block-treatment of cattle with Isometadium chloride and Diminazene aceturate. In a bid to assess its impact, two cross-sectional surveys were conducted in Busia, Tororo, Mbale, Jinja, Iganga, Kamuli, Pallisa and Mayuge districts in Southeast Uganda. The closing survey was conducted four years after the baseline survey. Village sampling points for cattle were identified using Geographical information systems (GIS) grid sampling strategy. Cattle blood samples were examined for trypanosome infection using Haematocrit Centrifugation Technique (HCT) combined with the Buffy Coat Technique (BCT). The surveys revealed that the area-wide campaign achieved a decline of 36.8% in the prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis over the four-years period. Out of the 9,627 cattle sampled during the baseline survey, the prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis of 633 (6.8%), Trypanosoma brucei infection of 90 (0.9%), Trypanosoma vivax infection of 366 (3.8%), Trypanosoma congolense infection of 113 (1.2%) and mixed infection of 64 (0.6%) were registered. Of the 10,414 cattle sampled during the closing survey, the prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis of 449 (4.3%), T. brucei infection of 14 (0.1%), T. vivax infection of 327 (3.1%), T. congolense infection of 69 (0.6%) and mixed infection of 39 (0.3%) were recorded. Indicating that 88.9%, 18.4%, 50.0% and 50.0% decline in the prevalence of T. brucei infection, T. vivax infection, T. congolense infection and mixed infection in cattle, respectively, were achieved. At district level, the area-wide campaign achieved decline in the prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis of 42.1%, 8.5%, 28.9%, 40.4%, 70.0%, 43.8% and 57.4% in the districts of Busia, Mbale, Jinja, Iganga, Kamuli, Pallisa and Mayuge, respectively. However, an increment of 17.9% in the prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis in Tororo district was observed, despite efforts of the control campaign. During the baseline survey, a total of 1000, 1400, 687, 1795, 1692, 1156 and 897 cattle were sampled in Busia, Tororo, Mbale, Jinja, Iganga, Kamuli, Pallisa and Mayuge districts, respectively. The prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis of 7.6%, 8.4%, 7.1%, 7.6%, 10.4%, 3.0%, 1.6% and 10.1% were registered in Busia, Tororo, Mbale, Jinja, Iganga, Kamuli, Pallisa and Mayuge districts, respectively. Meanwhile during the closing survey, a total of 907, 1400, 939, 1000, 1768, 2100, and 1100 cattle were sampled in Busia, Tororo, Mbale, Jinja, Iganga, Kamuli, Pallisa and Mayuge districts, respectively. The prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis of 4.4%, 9.5%, 6.5%, 5.4%, 6.2%, 0.9%, 0.9% and 4.3% were registered in Busia, Tororo, Mbale, Jinja, Iganga, Kamuli, Pallisa and Mayuge districts, respectively. In conclusion, the area-wide control campaign implemented in Southeast Uganda achieved the desired impact of reduction in the prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis, despite challenges of financial sustainability and community commitment experienced.