Observations on blood-borne parasites of domestic livestock in the lower Juba region of Somalia.

The commonest parasite to be found in blood of cattle in the Lower Juba Region is Theileria mutans. Antibodies against Trypanosoma spp. and Anaplasma marginale could be detected serologically whereas no antibodies against T. parva and T. annulata were present. A list of ticks collected between 1980 and 1982 in the above mentioned area shows that vectors of T. mutans are common. As the cattle throughout the region are indigenous Somali Boran it seems that endemic stability is maintained and mortality from T. mutans infection is negligible. It is not yet clear whether pathogenic strains of T. mutans similar to those isolated in East Africa occur.