Comparative study of trypanosomosis in zebu and N'Dama cattle in The Gambia.

An experiment was conducted in The Gambia to compare trypanosomosis incidence between zebu and N'Dama cattle. It was considered important to compare the 2 breeds under identical management conditions and the animals were maintained together at 3 locations, traditionally managed and under a range of tsetse challenges. The results show that trypanosomosis incidence was significantly higher in zebu than in N'Dama. Titre of antibody against Trypanosoma vivax measured by an IFAT showed a significant difference between zebu and N'Dama. Variations in packed cell volume were greater in zebu than in N'Dama.