Impact of Drought and Degradation of Protected Areas on the Distribution of Bovine Trypanosomoses and their Vectors in the Oti Catchment Basin of Northern Togo

Abstract

Located at the transition of the semiarid area in the North and the humid area in the South, the Oti catchment basin (OCB) has been subjected to high anthropic and climatic pressures from the 1970s to the 1990s. Drought, advancing desertification and economic activities, which rely mainly on crops and animal husbandry, contributed to the deterioration of the basin. In addition, because of its location, OCB is visited by transhumant cattle from Burkina Faso and Niger every year during the dry season. This seasonal movement of transhumant cattle engenders transmission and upholding of transboundary animal diseases, in particular bovine trypanosomoses. Bibliographical and field data, collected at the end of the dry season in April and May 2006, and processed by a GIS, allowed to assess the impact of anthropic and climatic factors on the epidemiology of animal trypanosomoses in OCB. Results of the survey showed that OCB was badly degraded; large wild mammals and Glossina species have become almost extinct in the wildlife reserve of the Lion’s Den. Glossina tachinoides was the only species captured north of 10° latitude N. Trypanosoma vivax was listed as the main parasite responsible for bovine trypanosomosis. It was concluded that land encroachment by man and climate change contributed to the southward retreat of the distribution area of Glossina species.

Keywords

• Bovin
• Glossina
• Trypanosomose
• Sécheresse
• Déboisement
• Système d’information géographique
• Togo