Dept of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7023, Uppsala, Sweden.
Vet Parasitol. 2011 May 31;178(1-2):40-7. doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2010.12.025. Epub 2010 Dec 25.
We conducted a two-part study in the native home areas of four cattle breeds, Abigar, Gurage, Horro and Sheko, in south-western Ethiopia. The first part of the study investigated livestock keeper knowledge about trypanosomosis and trypanotolerance. For each breed 60 livestock keepers were interviewed, resulting in a total of 240 interviews. The second part of the study focused on biological evidence for trypanotolerance. Blood samples of about 100 head of cattle per breed were collected during peak trypanosomosis challenge period and analyzed for packed cell volume (PCV) and parasitaemia. In addition individual body measurements of the sampled animals were taken and the keepers provided some information regarding their animals. Livestock keeper interviews revealed that trypanosomosis was considered a major problem in all areas (95-100%). Almost all Abigar livestock keepers knew how trypanosomosis is transmitted, whereas only 34-52% of the keepers of the other breeds had that knowledge. Most Sheko keepers (75%) knew of trypanotolerance and claimed to have trypanotolerant animals in their own herds. Among the other three breeds the knowledge of trypanotolerance was much less (8-18%). A majority of the keepers were interested in purchasing trypanotolerant animals. PCV was highest among Horro (26.2) and Sheko (25.1) cattle whereas Abigar had the lowest PCV (20.0). Sheko were least infected by trypanosomes (6%) and had the lowest number of trypanocidal treatments per year (1 treatment/animal and year). Abigar cattle were most infected (23%) followed by Gurage (20%) and Horro (17%). Gurage had by far the highest number of treatments per animal and year (24). There were large differences between the number of cattle perceived by the keepers to be infected, and the number detected from blood sampled, among Abigar, Gurage and Horro. Sheko livestock keepers were better at correctly diagnosing trypanosomosis in their animals. It is concluded that Sheko cattle have higher trypanotolerance attributes of the breeds investigated and a better use of this breed could improve cattle health and household welfare in tsetse-infested areas.
我们在埃塞俄比亚西南部的四个牛品种（Abigar、Gurage、Horro 和 Sheko）的原生地区进行了两部分研究。第一部分研究调查了家畜饲养者对锥虫病和锥虫耐受性的了解。对每个品种的 60 名家畜饲养者进行了访谈，共进行了 240 次访谈。第二部分研究重点关注锥虫耐受性的生物学证据。在锥虫病高发期采集了每个品种约 100 头牛的血液样本，并分析了红细胞压积（PCV）和寄生虫血症。此外，还对采样动物的个体身体测量值进行了测量，并由饲养员提供了一些关于其动物的信息。家畜饲养者访谈显示，锥虫病在所有地区都被认为是一个主要问题（95-100%）。几乎所有 Abigar 家畜饲养者都知道锥虫病是如何传播的，而其他品种的饲养者只有 34-52%知道这一点。大多数 Sheko 饲养者（75%）知道锥虫耐受性，并声称自己的牛群中有具有锥虫耐受性的动物。在其他三个品种中，对锥虫耐受性的了解要少得多（8-18%）。大多数饲养者有兴趣购买具有锥虫耐受性的动物。Horro（26.2）和 Sheko（25.1）的 PCV 最高，而 Abigar 的 PCV 最低（20.0）。Sheko 受锥虫感染的程度最低（6%），每年接受的杀锥虫治疗次数最少（每头动物和每年 1 次）。Abigar 牛受感染的程度最高（23%），其次是 Gurage（20%）和 Horro（17%）。Gurage 每头动物和每年的治疗次数最多（24 次）。Abigar、Gurage 和 Horro 中，饲养者认为感染的牛数量与从血液样本中检测到的感染牛数量之间存在很大差异。Sheko 家畜饲养者在正确诊断其动物的锥虫病方面做得更好。结论是，Sheko 牛具有更高的锥虫耐受性，更好地利用这种品种可以改善感染采采蝇地区的牛的健康和家庭福利。
