Detection of <i>Tritrichomonas foetus</i> in cattle at the Kumasi abattoir

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Tritrichomonas foetus in slaughtered cattle at the Kumasi abattoir. A total of one hundred (100) slaughtered cattle were sampled randomly (60-bulls and 40 cows) with preputial wash and vaginal lavage collected after slaughter for laboratory analysis using Wet-mount technique. Data obtained were analyzed by descriptive statistics using MS Excel and the results expressed in percentages and graphs. The prevalence of bovine Tritrichomoniasis was 34% with the cows recording 20% and the bulls 14% of the sampled population. Out of the cows sampled, twenty (20) were positive representing 50% and out of the bulls sampled, fourteen (14) were positive representing 23.3%. This clearly shows that cows had the highest prevalence compared to the bulls, therefore sex has a significant effect on the infection, since p˂0.05. The WASH and the Zebu cattle had relatively higher % positivity of 41.7% and 40.7%. N’dama cattle recorded 28.6% positivity which was same as the 28.6% positivity in the White Fulani, while the Sanga breed recorded the least positivity (21.4%) of the infection. Breed of cattle however had no significant effect on infection (p>0.05). The highest prevalence of Tritrichomonas infection was 47.2% in adult cattle of 4 years old whiles adult cattle of 3 years old had a prevalence rate of 28.6% whereas cattle of 2 years of age recorded the lowest prevalence rate of 22.7%. However, age had no significant effect (p>0.05) on the infection. Further studies should be conducted to ascertain the rate of infection in the country by using a larger sample size. In order to reduce the level of infection it is advisable to screen all breeding bulls and cull the affected ones.