Alpha Kargbo1,2, Godwin Unekwuojo Ebiloma3, Yakubu Kokori Enevene Ibrahim1,4, Gloria Dada Chechet5, Momodou Jeng6, Emmanuel Oluwadare Balogun7,8,9. 1. Africa Centre of Excellence for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology, Ahmadu Bello University, P.M.B 1044, Zaria, Nigeria. 2. School of Arts and Sciences, University of The Gambia, MDI Road, Kanifing, P.O. Box 3530, Serrekunda, The Gambia. 3. School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, TS1 3BX, UK. 4. Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, P.M.B 1044, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. 5. Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, P.M.B 1044, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. 6. West Africa Livestock Innovation Center (WALIC/ITC), PMB 14, Banjul, The Gambia. 7. Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, P.M.B 1044, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. eobalogun@abu.edu.ng. 8. Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, P.M. B, Lagos, 2013, Nigeria. eobalogun@abu.edu.ng. 9. Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan. eobalogun@abu.edu.ng.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: African Animal Trypanosomiasis (AAT) or nagana in animals, is caused by the blood-borne parasitic protozoa called trypanosomes, and is potentially fatal. It is estimated that Africa loses $4‒5 billion annually due to the death of livestock to nagana in the tsetse belt. PURPOSE: Although The Gambia lies within this belt, there is scanty data regarding the epizootiology of nagana in The Gambia. Here, records of reported cases of nagana for the period 2010-2019 at the International Trypanotolerance Centre (ITC) in The Gambia were analyzed retrospectively. METHODS: For insights into the current prevalence of AAT, blood samples of 384 cattle, 42 goats, and 59 sheep from the Central River Region (CRR) and Lower River Region (LRR) were analyzed microscopically for parasite identification. Furthermore, trypanosomes were characterized by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a panel of primers that identify trypanosomes to the level of the species and subspecies by targeting a portion of the internally transcribed spacer-one (ITS-1) of the ribosomal RNA. RESULTS: The retrospective study indicates that Trypanosoma vivax (66%) and T. congolense (33.4%) were the predominant species. Based on the archive records of ITC, the villages Touba, Misera, and Sambel Kunda all in the CRR of the Gambia are the most burdened with AAT. Microscopic examination of blood samples from cattle showed a prevalence of 1.56%, whereas the PCR-based analysis gave a higher prevalence of 12.5%. The molecular analysis revealed the presence of T. vivax (3.65%), T. congolense kilifi (2.6%), T. b. brucei (1.3%), T. congolense savannah/forest (0.52%), T. b. gambiense (0.52%). Interestingly, 4.43% of mixed infections i.e. multiple trypanosome species in individual animals were recorded. In 18% of the mixed infection cases, T. godfreyi, T. simiae were coinfecting cattle alongside T. congolense. The molecular identification including the phylogenetic analysis implicated T. congolense as the most predominant trypanosome species infecting animals in The Gambia. CONCLUSION: The incidence of nagana in The Gambia is documented and the prevalent trypanosomes identified to be T. vivax, different types of T. congolense, and T. brucei including the gambiense subspecie. Finally, nagana is less profound in sheep and goats compared to cattle, with seasonal and regional variations playing a significant role in the disease dynamics.
INTRODUCTION: African Animal Trypanosomiasis (AAT) or nagana in animals, is caused by the blood-borne parasitic protozoa called trypanosomes, and is potentially fatal. It is estimated that Africa loses $4‒5 billion annually due to the death of livestock to nagana in the tsetse belt. PURPOSE: Although The Gambia lies within this belt, there is scanty data regarding the epizootiology of nagana in The Gambia. Here, records of reported cases of nagana for the period 2010-2019 at the International Trypanotolerance Centre (ITC) in The Gambia were analyzed retrospectively. METHODS: For insights into the current prevalence of AAT, blood samples of 384 cattle, 42 goats, and 59 sheep from the Central River Region (CRR) and Lower River Region (LRR) were analyzed microscopically for parasite identification. Furthermore, trypanosomes were characterized by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a panel of primers that identify trypanosomes to the level of the species and subspecies by targeting a portion of the internally transcribed spacer-one (ITS-1) of the ribosomal RNA. RESULTS: The retrospective study indicates that Trypanosoma vivax (66%) and T. congolense (33.4%) were the predominant species. Based on the archive records of ITC, the villages Touba, Misera, and Sambel Kunda all in the CRR of the Gambia are the most burdened with AAT. Microscopic examination of blood samples from cattle showed a prevalence of 1.56%, whereas the PCR-based analysis gave a higher prevalence of 12.5%. The molecular analysis revealed the presence of T. vivax (3.65%), T. congolense kilifi (2.6%), T. b. brucei (1.3%), T. congolense savannah/forest (0.52%), T. b. gambiense (0.52%). Interestingly, 4.43% of mixed infections i.e. multiple trypanosome species in individual animals were recorded. In 18% of the mixed infection cases, T. godfreyi, T. simiae were coinfecting cattle alongside T. congolense. The molecular identification including the phylogenetic analysis implicated T. congolense as the most predominant trypanosome species infecting animals in The Gambia. CONCLUSION: The incidence of nagana in The Gambia is documented and the prevalent trypanosomes identified to be T. vivax, different types of T. congolense, and T. brucei including the gambiense subspecie. Finally, nagana is less profound in sheep and goats compared to cattle, with seasonal and regional variations playing a significant role in the disease dynamics.
Authors: S Dhollander; A Jallow; K Mbodge; S Kora; M Sanneh; M Gaye; J Bos; S Leak; D Berkvens; S Geerts Journal: Prev Vet Med Date: 2006-06-30 Impact factor: 2.670
Authors: Ayodele O Majekodunmi; Akinyemi Fajinmi; Charles Dongkum; Kim Picozzi; Michael V Thrusfield; Susan C Welburn Journal: Parasit Vectors Date: 2013-08-19 Impact factor: 3.876
Authors: Alpha Kargbo; Edrisa Jawo; Amien Isaac Amoutchi; Herve Koua; Rex Kuye; Zainabou Dabre; Abdoulie Bojang; Rafael F C Vieira Journal: J Parasitol Res Date: 2022-01-24