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Effect of altitude and
animal age on the prevalence of dictyocaulosis in cattle in
the Northern Province of Rwanda
Nshimiyimana Juvenal,
Shyaka Anselme and Mutandwa Edward
Faculty of Rural Development and Agribusiness, ISAE Busogo,
BP 210 Musanze, Rwanda.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
juvenal.nshimiyimana@gmail.com.
Accepted
22 December, 2009 |
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This
research was done in the North-western region of Rwanda and
the aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of
bovine dictyocaulosis and influences of altitude and age on
infestation in the region. Dictyocaulosis is a parasitic
disease caused by the presence and the development of
parasite Dictyocaulus species in the lung. On a
random sample of 1470 slaughtered animals, the study
revealed 68 cases of dictyocaulosis, which represents 4.6%
of the total of the slaughtered animals, with variations of
between 1.3 and 7.5% in different sites. The study showed a
variation of the prevalence, which is related to altitude
(from 1470 to 3000 m) and age (p < 0.05).
There is need to craft specific
measures against dictyocaulosis in the areas of high
altitude of Rwanda.
Key
words:
Altitude, bovine, dictyocaulosis, lung, prevalence, Rwanda. |
