Evaluation of a preliminary title to protect zero-grazed dairy cattle with insecticide-treated mosquito netting in Western Kenya |
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| Authors: | B Bauer D Gitau F P Oloo S M Karanja |
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| Institution: | (1) Institute for Parasitology and International Animal Health, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany;(2) Farming in Tsetse Controlled Areas–Kenya (FITCA-K), African Union (AU/IBAR), Nairobi;(3) Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Trypanosomiasis Research Centre (KARI-TRC), Kikuyu, Kenya |
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| Abstract: | The incidence of trypanosome infection was monitored in dairy cattle during a 6-month trial in Busia and Teso districts, western
Kenya, to assess the efficacy of insecticide-treated netting for protection against tsetse flies. Frequently, the fragile
netting did not last longer than 2 months because of destruction by strong wind or animal movements. Also, many farmers let
their cattle graze freely outside the units during the day, despite technical advice, resulting in exposure of the free-ranging
animals to habitats suitable for tsetse and thereby an increased risk of trypanosome infections. The trial groups thus comprised
34 animals from 11 dairy units that were continuously protected, and 153 animals from 46 dairy units that were partially protected.
The control group consisted of 162 animals in 42 unprotected units. The phase-contrast buffy-coat technique was used for parasitological
monitoring. The mean hazard rate for trypanosomes was significantly lower in protected cows, with a value of 0.007 as opposed
to 0.02 for the control animals. Mean packed cell volumes (PCV) were significantly higher in protected cattle (29.7%) than
in unprotected ones (27.6%). Farmers with protected animals also reported fewer nuisance flies and mosquitoes in their compounds. |
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| Keywords: | Dairy cattle Glossina spp Insecticide-treated netting Trypanosome infections Western Kenya Zero-grazing units |
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