Prevalence of Trypanosome Infections in Cattle and Sheep in the Benin's West Atacora Agro-Ecological Zone

Trypanosomiasis remains one of the major constraints to ruminant livestock development in Benin. In order to determine the prevalence of trypanosome infections in the municipality of Ouake in the West Atacora agro-ecological zone, a parasitological study was conducted on 52 sheep (phenotype Djallonke) and 134 cattle phenotypes Somba (63), Borgou (21), Zebu (18) and crossbred Zebu x Somba (32). In order to determine prevalence rates, blood samples were checked for trypanosomes using microscopic techniques: 6.7% in cattle (n= 9) and 3.8% in sheep (n= 2). Two trypanosome species were encountered in cattle: Trypanosoma vivax (33.3%) with n= 3 and T. congolense (44.5%) with n= 4. Some cases of coinfection by T. vivax and T. congolense (n= 2) were reported (22.2%). Only T. congolense was identified in sheep. Female calves were more infected (22.2%) than other cattle. The Somba phenotype had the lowest prevalence (1.6%) while the highest prevalence was recorded for crossbred Zebu x Somba (15.6%). These results suggest that the trypanosome infections control needs to be intensified, in order to improve cattle and sheep productivity in the municipality of Ouake.