Abstract

Trypanosomiosis are important parasitic protozoan disease of livestock in the area and causes severe disease which results in loss of livestock and agricultural productivity with serious socio-economic consequences. A crosssectional study was conducted from January 2021 to June 2021 in selected kebeles in Abeshege Wereda Gurage Zone with the objectives of determining the prevalence of trypanosomiosis and associated risk factors. Blood samples were collected from 623 selected cattle of the study villages and evaluated through standard parasitological methods. The overall prevalence was 15.73% (98/623). Trypanosoma congelense was the predominant species in the area (12.03%). Among species of trypanosomiosis, T. conglence and T. vivax were identified in 75(12.03%) and 23(3.69%) in examined samples respectively. Mixed infection by two species was noted in 1(0.16%) of the samples. Meanwhile from considered epidemiological factors body condition and PCV-value were showed statistically significance difference (P<0.05) with the overall prevalence of trypanosoma infections in cattle. On the other hand, trypanosoma infection among age, kebele and sex showed no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). In conclusion, bovine trypanosomosis is economically important disease that affects the health as well as productivity of cattle in Abeshege Wereda. Hence, appropriate disease prevention and control methods should be undertaken to improve livestock production and agricultural development in the area.