Porcine trypanosomiasis in southeastern Uganda: prevalence and assessment of therapeutic effectiveness

Abstract

This study aimed at investigating the prevalence of trypanosomiasis and the usefulness of diminazene aceturate and isometamidium chloride in the treatment of pigs infected with Trypanosoma brucei subgroup. Whole blood was collected from pigs kept in two disease endemic areas, with riverine and open savannah environments. The prevalence of trypanosomiasis was recorded at 8.1% in the riverine environment as compared to the 2.1% in the open savannah environment and the infections in the former were significantly higher (P < 0.001). All pigs that received a treatment of isometamidium chloride (Samorin®) at 1 mg/kg body weight did not show relapse when followed up to one month post treatment using microscopy. However, relapses were recorded among pigs treated with diminazene aceturate (Berenil®) at a dose rate of 7 mg/kg body weight and no relapses were recorded in those treated with 14 mg/kg body weight. From this investigation, it is apparent that the trypanosome prevalence among pigs kept under the riverine environment is higher than those kept under the open savannah. In addition, 1 mg/kg and 14 mg/kg isometamidium chloride and diminazene aceturate respectively should be adopted for the treatment of trypanasome infections among the pigs in the trypanosomiasis endemic areas.