The prevalence of bovine trypanosomes in parts of Benue state, north-central Nigeria.

Tsetse-borne African animal trypanosomiasis remains a serious threat to livestock production in sub-Saharan Africa. The disease limits the full potential of agricultural development in 36 endemic countries of Africa 1,2. In Ni-geria, livestock production is limited by trypanosomiasis as tsetse flies infest about 75% of the nation's land mass 3 subjecting the animal population at great risk of the disease. In the absence of vaccine against the disease, case detection, treatment and vector control remain strategic control options. Previous reports on trypanosomiasis showed that Benue state was a known human African try-panosomiasis (HAT)/sleeping sickness endemic focus 4,5. In addition, trypanosomes of veterinary importance had also been recorded 6. A recent survey on HAT in Benue state showed that the areas surveyed were no longer en-demic for sleeping sickness 7. Our purpose was to investigate the prevalence of trypanosomes in cattle and also update information on the status of animal trypanosomia-sis in the state, prior to the implementation of the Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC)-Nigeria initiative. Specifically, we investigated the prevalence of trypanosomes in cattle drawn from three Local Government Areas of Benue state, north-central Nigeria.