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Prevalence and Risk Factors of Trypanosoma evansi Infection among Water Buffalos (Bubalus bubalis) in Ubay, Bohol, Philippines
Thesis Abstract:
This study is the first in Visayas to determine the prevalence of T. evansi infection or surra and its associated risk factors. The study was able to accomplish the stated objectives. The true prevalence at the herd level was 24.70% and the true prevalence at the individual animal level was 16.05%. Indeed, surra is not only present in the government institutional farms (USF, PCC, NDA) but also in small hold farms of Ubay. This is the first time that an animal from outside a commercial farm in Bohol was detected to be infected with T. evansi. Almost (96.47%) all of the water buffalo farmers in Ubay had no knowledge on surra. However, majority of them had the right attitude regarding water buffalo diseases. As part of disease prevention practices, majority of the farmers consulted a veterinarian (72.94%), as much as possible they did not allow their water buffaloes to get in contact with other animals (85.88%) and they buried their dead animals to prevent fly infestation and spread of diseases (81%). Risk factors identified in the study were: farmers who kept their water buffaloes near (</- 28meters) other water buffaloes, goats and pigs; buffalo owners who practiced deworming every 12 months only and water buffaloes having a Body Condition Score (BCS) of 2.5. Other risk factors identified were stress-related conditions such as physical labor and pregnancy or parturition which could result to reduced resistance and higher susceptibility to diseases such as surra. Non-specific risk factors were also identified such as the year when the animals were brought in the farm and the number of hours the water buffaloes wallowed per day.
To prevent spread of surra in affected areas and if tethering in a common grazing ground could not be avoided, it is recommended that animals should be kept separated from each other as far as 200 meters apart (Dargantes, 2010 quoted from Foil, 1983). This is to prevent tabanids from moving between hosts and the consequent transmission of T. evansi. Barros and Foil (2007) as quoted by Dargantes (2010) reported that tabanids would not travel more than 50 meters to re-initiate feeding. It is also recommended to conduct a targeted surveillance on water buffaloes with a BCS of 2.5 or below and treat infected animals to prevent the spread of surra throughout the province. Moreover, animals for dispersal should be checked for T. evansi infection before they are distributed to farmers especially if surra was detected in the source farms.
