Evaluation of knowledge, attitude and practices of agro-pastoralists on tsetse fly(Glossina sp.) in Western Serengeti Tanzania

A cross-section study was conducted to evaluate knowledge, attitude and practices about tsetse (Glossina) and trypanosomiasis among the agro-pastoralists communities around the Ikorongo/Grumeti game reserves in the Western Serengeti. Structured questionnaire were administered to 80 respondents and out of these 95% had adequate knowledge about tsetse flies and 79% knew the local names of the fly. The study also revealed that 25.5% of respondents recognized the common hideouts of tsetse to be the grazing areas near the reserves 29% along rivers and 20.4% in bushes and forests.  Twenty four percent of respondents knew the clinical signs of African Animal Trypanosomiasis (AAT) which included rough coat, emaciation (21%), diarrhea (13.3%) and loss of appetite (11.9%). Other mentioned disease symptoms which had small proportions included miscarriages, coughing, reduced milk yield and break tail. Ninety six percent of respondents ranked Animal Trypanosomiasis the first among other existing animal diseases in the area including Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), East Coast Fever (ECF) and Anaplasmosis. Chemotherapy was the most practiced method to control trypanosomiasis in the western Serengeti. Cattle owners used isometamedium chloride (samorin) and dimenazine aceturate (berenil) to treat sick animals. Economic losses caused by the disease in their animals were identified to be deaths, reduced milk production and income. Lack of enough resources to contribute to the maintenance of cattle dips and the grazing of animals inside the reserves especially during the dry season when there was shortage of pastures outside the reserves were the main constraints associated with cattle productivity in the area.  Key words: Agro-pastoralists, animal trypanosomiasis, Glossina,