Tabanid-transmitted animal trypanosomiasis in Cameroon: Evidence from a study in the tsetse free pastoral zone of Galim

The role of tabanids as potential transmitters of animal trypanosomiasis (AAT) has not yet been established in Cameroon. The objectives of this study were: (i) to trap and determine the species richness and abundance of tabanids, (ii) to identify circulating trypansomes in cattle and tabanids in a tsetse free area. A three year (2015 to 2017) tabanid survey in six regions of Cameroon was conducted. In Galim village, which is in a tsetse free area, both tabanids and cattle blood samples were screened by PCR for the presence of trypanosome DNA. Tabanids were diverse in Littoral (13 species) and in Adamawa (13 species), but were abundant in the Far North region (36.37 to 145.58 tabanids per trap per day (t/t/d)). In Galim, the tabanid trypanosomal DNA presence was 24.4% (95% CI: 11.25–37.53), while the bovine trypanosomal DNA presence was 4.8% (95% CI: 1.68–11.20). In this village, the Trypanosoma spp. identified in tabanids were T. theileri, T. vivax and T. evansi, while those in cattle were T. theileri and T. vivax. The control of tabanids is required to stop the mechanical spread of AAT in tsetse free areas.