Theses and Dissertations

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    DETERMINATION OF PREVALENCE OF TICKS AND TICK- BORNE DISEASES IN INDIGENOUS BREEDS OF CATTLE IN PASTORAL AND MIXED CROP-LIVESTOCK-FARMING SYSTEMS OF NAKASEKE AND NAKASONGOLA DISTRICTS
    (2014) Kwesiga Stephen
    A cross-sectional study was done between July and September 2011, in the cattle-corridor districts of Nakaseke and Nakasongola to deterrnine prevalence of ticks and tick-borne diseases (TfBDs) in indigenous breeds of cattle in pastoral and mixed crop-livestock arming systems of Nakaseke and Nakasongola It was also undertaken to understand the perspective of local conununities and extension workers on 'I*I'BDs and the management practices they employed to control them. The farming systems under study were pastoral and mixed aop-livestock faming systems. An open ended questionnaire was admninstered to capture information about cormnon cattle diseases, their clinical signs and symptoms, seasonal occurrence and out-breaks ITBDs, indigenous and modem management and control practices and their effectiveness among others. A total of 3600 questionnaires were admninistered to 3600 households, 1800 in each that is, of the two districts. The tick challenge and spectrum of species were assessed on one side of animal body. Thprevalent tick species were collected from different predilection sites and were further identified to species in the laboratory.The relationship between tick burden and disease out-break, rainfall patterns, seaso~al outbreaks and efficiency of treatment methods among others was deter·rnined and analysed.The results showed that R.appendiculatus was the most abundant tick species, followed by A. variegatum and lastly R. evertsi evertsi and their population varied greatly based on the seasons. In pastoral farming system, no ticks were found on calves below 6 months old, probably due to over-confinement in calf pens. The prevalence of T. parva was below 20% in calves below 4 months old, thereafter rising to 65% at 5 months, and then dropping to 200/0 from the age of 6 to 9 months. In mixed crop-livestock far111ing system, all age groups of I cattle were exposed to tick challenge. The prevalence of T. parva increased from 1 month old calf reaching a peak in 2-3 months old calves, but drastically dropped in calves 4 months old. Thereafter, it gradually built up to 70% in animals 7 .months old. licks were managed on a regular basis using acaricides, but the tick load on most animals was high due to application of under-strength concentration of acaricides. This was probably due to ignorance or financial difficulties, which could result in development of widespread acaricide resistance in ticks. The research findings can be enriched by conducting more studies to cover all the seasons. vii
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    TSETSE FLY (DIPTERA: GLOSSINIDAE) SPECIES COMPOSITION, AGE STRUCTURE AND SEASONAL ABUNDANCE ALONG ESIA RIVER IN ITIRIKWA SUBCOUNTY, ADJUMANI DISTRICT, NORTH WESTERN UGANDA
    (2024) Dramwi Mathias
    Background: Tsetse flies are vectors of African trypanosomes that present a threat to animal and human health on the continent. Controlling the vector therefore has the potential to improve agricultural productivity and human health in large parts of the continent. However, vector control requires reliable data on the actual species of the vectors and their dynamics. This study investigated the species composition, seasonal abundance and age structure oftsetse vectors along Esia River in Itirikwa Sub County in Adjumani district, northwest Uganda. Methods: Tsetse surveys were conducted using biconical traps across 10 villages along Esia River in the dry (January 2023) and wet (May 2022) seasons. A total of 50 traps were deployed at a distance of at least 1 OOm apart along riverbanks in each village, and checked after 72 hours. Trapped tsetses were identified using morphological keys, and data on entomological parameter~ assessed for the seasons. Age structure determination was carried out using wing fray analyses of flies. Results: A total of 919· tsetse flies were captured (593 females and 326 males) in the 10 villages in both the dry and wet seasons. All the captured tsetse flies belonged to the G/ossina fuscipes fuscipes subspecies. Average for all sites combined in both seasons was 3.205 ±0.521 (Mean± SE) with significant variations between villages (p = 0.001). Zoka (5.04 FTD) had the highest average fly abundance while the least was Lukwara ( 1.34 FTD). Generllly more flies were caught during the wet season (n=618; mean FTD 4.11) than dry season (n=301; mean FTD = 2.225 ;p=0.031 ).Overall, the difference in FTDs between the different vegetation types was not significant (p=0.542) though woodland appeared to have slightly higher number of catches than the other two vegetation types (forest and grassland). Estimated ages of the tsetse for the different villages ranged from 22-29 days for the wet season and from 18-25 days for the dry season implying that there were more old flies during the wet than dry season. Conclusion and Recommendation Glossina fuscipes fuscipes is the main vector for African trypanosomiasis along Esia River, with variable fly densities across villages and seasons. Given the relatively high FTDs in the area, regular surveillance and control should be instituted to reduce the incidence of African trypanosomiasis.