Effect of Trypanosoma spp. on Nutritional status and performance of livestock

Trypanosoma species occur in vertebrates, principally in their blood and tissue fluids as intercellular. A few may invade the tissue fluids as intracellular parasites like Trypanosoma cruzi found within the cells of reticuloendothelial system and in the cardiac muscles. Trypanosomiasis in livestock has a profound influence on productivity (FAO, 2000). Seasonal occurrence of trypanosomiasis, mostly in the dry season (Mochabo et al., 2005) and in hot humid climate in tsetse infested areas (Dam et al., 1996). The severity of trypanosomiasis depends on the pathogenicity of the Trypanosoma spp. and susceptibility and nutritional status of the host. Susceptibility increases to trypanosomiasis depends on malnutrition, overwork, intercurrent infection, pregnancy, parturition lactation, stress and degree of parasitaemia. (katunguka et. al., 1995). Species of the genus are the etiological agents of important diseases of animals and man such as Surra, Nagana, Dourine, Mal-decadres in animals and sleeping sickness of man etc. They are transmitted by blood sucking arthropods in which the developmental stages like epimastigote or promastigote occur. A few species are transmitted mechanically without any development in the arthopod vector. Effect on Feed Intake