Trypanosoma sp.

IN RUMINANTS FROM SOMALIA

HASSAN-KADLE, A.A.1,2*; IBRAHIM, A.M.2; NYINGILILI, H.S.3; YUSUF, A.A.2; VIEIRA, R.F.C.1,**
1 Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brasil
2 Abrar Research and Training Centre, Abrar University, Mogadishu, Somalia
3 Vector and Vector Borne Diseases Research Institute, Tanga, Tanzania

*kadle010@gmail.com; **rvieira@ufpr.br

ABSTRACT
African animal trypanosomiasis (AAT) is one of the major constraints of the livestock industry in developing countries of Africa. Trypanosoma species are transmitted cyclically by tsetse flies (Glossina sp.) and/or mechanically by other hematophagous
flies. In Somalia, Glossina pallidipes, G. austeni, G. brevipalpis and G. longipennis have been reported, being G. pallidipes the most widely distributed. The AAT affects the health and productivity of livestock of 12.3 million Somalis and severely
constraints their development and wellbeing, as well as the general economy of the country. Therefore, this study has aimed to determine the prevalence of Trypanosoma sp. infecting cattle, sheep and goats in the tsetse infested areas of Afgoye and
Jowhar districts of Somalia by using a nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) assay targeting the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of this protozoon. Blood samples were taken from 614 ruminants: cattle (n = 202), sheep (n = 206) and goats
(n = 206). A total of 120/614 (19.5%; 95% CI: 16.6-22.9%) ruminants were positive for AAT by nPCR: 64/202 (31.7%; 95% CI: 25.6-38.4%) cattle, 38/206 (18.4%; 95% CI: 13.7-24.3%) goats and 18/206 (8.7%; 95% CI: 5.6-13.4%) sheep. A total of
94/120 (78.3%; 95% CI: 70.1-84.7%) ruminants were coinfected with at least two Trypanosoma species. Coinfections between T. evansi and T. vivax (18/120; 15%) and triple-infection of T. evansi and T. godfreyi and T. vivax (15/120; 12.5%) were the
most frequent. Trypanosoma evansi, T. godfreyi, T. vivax, T. brucei, T. simiae and T. congolense were the trypanosomes species found. The Trypanosoma sp. prevalence was higher in animals from Afgoye (24.3%) than in Jowhar (14.8%) (p = 0.003).
These findings show that both tsetse and non-tsetse transmitted animal trypanosomiasis were prevalent in the studied areas. Further large-scale studies and sustainable control programmes of the disease are needed in the country.

INTRODUCTION DISCUSSION

African animal trypanosomiasis (AAT) is a parasitic disease caused by protozoans of the genus
Trypanosoma (OIE Manual 2013). The disease has been estimated to cost Africa US $4.5 billion
a year (Oluwafemi et al. 2007). Although little information was available on the economic impact
of animal trypanosomiasis in Somalia, it had been estimated an annual loss of approximately 88
million US dollars due to trypanosomiasis on livestock (Mohamed and Dairri 1987). In Somalia,
animal trypanosomiasis were reported in different domestic ruminants (Mohamed and Dairri
1987, Macchioni and Abdullatif 1985, Dirie et al. 1988). Despite the livestock plays a vital role in
supporting livelihood of 12.3 million Somali communities living in an area of 640,000 km2
(UNFPA 2014), therefore, the present study investigates the epidemiological situation of
trypanosomiasis in cattle and small ruminants in the tsetse infested areas of Lower Shabelle
(Afgoye district) and Middle Shabelle (Jowhar district) regions of Somalia using microscopical
and molecular techniques.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The result of the present study (19.5%) was in close agreement with the finding of Simwango et al.
(2017) who reported prevalence of 17.2% at Maasai Steppe, Northern Tanzania. However, our finding is
lower than that reported in Sudan (57.7%) by Osman et al. (2016). Trypanosome evansi is predominant
Trypansoma sp. in the study area as compared to other species. This may be due to the camel grazing in
the area and the presence of other biting flies which accelerate mechanical transmission of the parasite.
Previous Trypanosome sp. detection reported in Somalia had used microscopical methods of diagnosis
(Mohamed and Dairri 1987; Dirire et al. 1988). However, to our knowledge, this is the first report of using
molecular (PCR) technique for the detection of Trypanosoma sp. in cattle and small ruminant from
Somalia. Our study has shown a significant difference of prevalence of trypanosome infections between
districts. The variation may be attributed to differences in community practices for vector control.
CONCLUSION
The current study has shown that both tsetse and non-tsetse transmitted animal trypanosomiasis were

A total of 614 blood samples were taken from cattle (n = 202), sheep (n = 206) and goats (n = prevalent in the studied areas. Further large-scale studies and sustainable control programmes of the

206) grazing in tsetse infested areas of Afgoye (13° 4’ N and 36° E) and Jowhar (13° 4’ N and disease are needed in the country.

36° E) districts, Somalia. Blood spots on filter papers were prepared for molecular detection of
the parasite. DNA was extracted from filter papers cards using Chelex® 100 resin (Sodium form,
100-200 dry mesh, Sigma–Aldrich, St. Louis, USA) procedure described by Ahmed et al. (2011). ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
A nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) (Cox et al., 2005) was carried out to identify and
The present study was funded by Abrar University, Somalia. The authors would like to thank Hassan
differentiate the infecting trypanosome species basing on the size of their internal transcribed
Hussein and Abdiwali Mohamud at ARTC lab, Abrar University for their help with samples collection. We
spaces (ITS) ITS region.
are also thankful to animal owners for their cooperation.

RESULTS
The overall prevalence of animal trypanosomiasis by the nPCR was 19.5% (120/614; 95% CI:
16.6-22.9%) for the entire study area with the highest prevalence observed in cattle (31.7%;
95% CI: 25.6-38.4%) followed by goats (18.4%; 95% CI: 13.7-24.3%) and sheep (8.7%; 95% CI:
5.6-13.4%). There were statistical significant differences in trypanosome infections within the
districts (p=0.003) and within animal species (p=0.00000003). Animals reared in Afgoye district
were approximately two times (OR=1.8; 95% CI: 1.2-2.8) more likely to be infected with African
trypanosomiasis than animals reared in Jowhar district. Trypanosoma evansi, T. godfreyi, T.
vivax, T. brucei, T. simiae and T. congolense were the trypanosomes species found. A total of
94/120 (78.3%; 95% CI: 70.1-84.7%) ruminants were coinfected with at least two Trypanosoma
species. Coinfections between T. evansi and T. vivax (18/120; 15%) and triple-infection of T.
evansi and T. godfreyi and T. vivax (15/120; 12.5%) were the most frequent. These coinfections
were mainly observed in goats (10/120; 8.3%) and cattle (6/120; 5%) from Afgoye district,
respectively. None of sheep samples from both districts were shown T. simiae infection.
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