Risk behaviours for milk-borne diseases transmission along the milk chain in The Gambia and Senegal.

The objective of this study was the characterisation of the traditional milk chain in Western Region (The Gambia) and Kolda (Southern Senegal); and the analysis of milk chain actors' risk behaviours for milk-borne diseases transmission. For this purpose, cattle herds involved in milk production, milk collectors, milk vendors and small-scale milk processing units were surveyed in the two study sites. A similar general milk chain organisation was found in the two sites with some particularities in farm management, compliance with hygienic measures at different levels, treatment of milk and milk consumption patterns.

Observations on the prevalence of trypanosomosis in small ruminants, equines and cattle, in relation to tsetse challenge, in The Gambia.

The prevalence of trypanosome infections in Djallonké sheep and West African Dwarf goats at different sites in The Gambia showed a significant, positive correlation with contemporary assessments of tsetse challenge. A similar correlation was observed in village N'Dama cattle which showed comparable prevalence values in the same areas. Trypanosome prevalences also tended to be higher in horses and donkeys in areas with high tsetse challenge compared with sites with relatively few flies.

Frequency of trypanosomosis and gastrointestinal parasites in draught donkeys in The Gambia in relation to animal husbandry.

Prevalence of trypanosomosis, gastrointestinal strongyles and level of strongyle egg outputs were studied in relation to husbandry practices in the draught donkey population in The Gambia. Feeding regime, number of working hours per day and overnight penning practices of donkeys affected significantly (P < 0.05) the level of gastrointestinal strongyle egg output, but not (P > 0.

A comparison of the susceptibility of Djallonké sheep and West African Dwarf goats to experimental infection with two different strains of Trypanosoma congolense.

Two cloned strains of Trypanosoma congolense, of West and East African origin, were used to infect by intradermal inoculation two groups of young adult female Djallonké sheep and West African Dwarf goats. For a 3 month period post-infection, packed red cell volume (PCV), parasitaemia, body weight and clinical parameters were followed to evaluate their trypanotolerant nature and to control the pathogenicity of the two strains of T. congolense.

Parasite spectrum and seasonal epidemiology of gastrointestinal nematodes of small ruminants in The Gambia.

One hundred and four post mortem examinations of randomly selected sheep (52) and goats (52) were carried out weekly from March 1990 to February 1991. Gastrointestinal parasites were identified and counted. A large spectrum of 16 helminth species was found in 101 (97%) infected animals.

Experimental infection of N'Dama cattle with trypanosomes using Glossina palpalis gambiensis caught in the wild.

The transmissibility of trypanosome infection to N'Dama cattle by tsetse flies caught in the field was examined. Wild-caught Glossina palpalis gambiensis were transferred singly into small numbered cages and allowed to feed on 14 uninfected N'Dama cattle. Following a completed feed the tsetse were dissected and infection in the proboscis, the salivary glands and the gut was recorded.