Baseline survey of animal trypanosomosis in the region of the Boucle du Mouhoun, Burkina Faso.

In view of gathering baseline information about the prevalence of animal trypanosomosis, the Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC) funded a cross sectional survey in the region of the Boucle du Mouhoun which constitutes the Northern limit of the tsetse distribution in Burkina. This cross sectional study was carried out in 53 villages located in the six provinces of the region. A total of 2002 cattle, 1466 small ruminants and 481 donkeys were sampled. This survey showed that about 25% of the cattle had been treated with trypanocidal drugs within 3 months before the survey compared to 3% and 0.42% for the small ruminants and donkeys, respectively. Parasitological prevalence in cattle was low: 0.77% (95% C.I. 0.30-1.95%). No goats and three donkeys were found infected with trypanosomes. Infections were mainly due to Trypanosoma vivax (75.0%) with cases of Trypanosoma congolense (25.0%). In cattle, the serological prevalence of trypanosomosis, for the entire region of the Boucle du Mouhoun, was 34.2% (95% C.I. 26.1-43.4%). For sheep, goats and donkeys, the prevalence were of 20.9% (95% C.I. 12.2-33.5%), 8.5% (95% C.I. 5.7-12.5%) and 5.8% (95% C.I. 3.9-8.6%), respectively. The age and distance to the river were the two main risk factors associated with seropositivity.

Effects of poor pasture conditions and type of feeding on some biochemical values of gobra zebu in Senegal.

Blood samples were obtained from 70 healthy gobra zebu from three different farms each one with a different feed (natural pasture, concentrates and groundnut hay) to exhibit the influence of type of feeding. To evaluate effect of poor pasture conditions, animals in an extensive system on natural pasture were sampled twice with a monthly interval in the late dry season. Blood samples were analysed for calcium, inorganic phosphate, total protein, glucose, urea, creatinine and haematocrit. Poor pasture conditions caused a decrease of plasma components such as haematocrit, total protein, inorganic phosphate, glucose and urea. The impact of type of feeding by comparing values from animals grazed on natural pasture with those from animals which received concentrates showed significantly higher values of total protein, urea and inorganic phosphate for animals fed with concentrates. Comparison between animals grazed on natural pasture and those which received groundnut hay indicate a significantly higher value of total protein and urea for animals fed with groundnut hay.

[Influence of age, pregnancy and lactation on serum calcium, inorganic phosphate and alkaline phosphatase in the Gobra zebu]. / Influence de l'age, de la gestation et de la lactation sur le calcium, le phosphate inorganique et la phosphatase alcaline serique chez le zébu Gobra.

Serum concentrations of two minerals (Ca, P) and activity ol ALP of 368 Gobra Zebu of breeding centre of Dahra have been measured. Blood samples were taken from groups of zebu of varying age (< 1 month to 3 years) and physiological status (pregnancy, lactation). Concentrations of Ca, P and activity of ALP hither on young animals are related to the needs of bone growth. Concentrations of these constituents in serum decrease with advancing age. On early pregnancy calcemia decreases because Ca is extracted towards the fetus, while phosphatemia decreases strongly on late pregnancy. Activity of ALP changes during pregnancy, but does not appear to be correlated with any stage of pregnancy.

[Effects of natural phosphate supplementation in the Gabra Zebu of Senegal]. / Effets de la complémentation en phosphates naturels chez le Zébu Gabra du Sénégal.

The authors contemplate using natural phosphates, despite their high fluorine content, as an economical supplement for tropical cattle's phosphate needs. Continuous and discontinuous distribution will be tried to better understand the effects of the fluorine. Tests were carried out in Senegal on 78 Gabra Zebu bullocks. Over a 2 year period, every day each animal received differing doses (50g. and 100g.) of differing phosphates (from Taiba or from Thies) resulting in dental lesions and some bone lesions because of the fluorine content. The dental lesions were the most noticeable. Only a minority of the bone and articulary lesions were serious. Furthermore, they were inconsistent. At the end of the experiment, the animals were in good general health. It had not been possible to dose fluorine prior to this publication.