An Assessment of Implications of Neglected Trypanosomiasis Disease Detection Limitations on Prevention and Control: A One Health Comprehensive Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31674/mjmr.2026.v010i02.06Abstract
Trypanosomiasis is a Zoonotic disease which is transmitted between human beings livestock and companion animals. It is a complex and one of the notable neglected diseases of global importance. It is mainly vectored by tsetse flies, but non-tsetse insects also play a role in some cases. It claims the lives of humans, livestock and also compromises the health of companion animals hence largely affecting the livelihoods of human beings by compromising their health and food security. This paper reviewed 30 articles, looking at One Health implications of neglected Trypanosomiasis disease limitations in detection methods, on prevention and control. To come up with this paper 1,578 articles were downloaded from different data bases having peer-reviewed articles. Different phrases were used to specify the area of concentration and years were accustomed between 1990 and 2024. The study found that different techniques such as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Microscopy techniques, Card Agglutination Test for Trypanosomiasis (CATT) and Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) are used to detect the Trypanosomes which are causative agents of Trypanosomiasis. These tools have their advantages of being sensitive and specific but are limited in that some detect only active cases and others detect only passive cases whilst others detect both. This affect reporting of prevalence in different locations and hence putting into a compromise One Health principle of informed decision making based on a reliable data set. Prevention and Control of Trypanosomiasis may either target the vector or the parasite. Methods such as the use of drugs, Trypanosomes tolerant species and traps and targets but also spraying have been reported. The different used methodologies have their strengths and weaknesses too. The problem of drug resistance has been rampant due to drug misuse and poor diagnosis of disease cases. These problems have therefore aggravated disease burden on humans, companion animals and livestock. Integration of different methodologies using One Health approach in which the triad is at the helm of prior consideration need to be advocated. Multisectoral collaboration which fosters the spirit of interdependency in dealing with zoonotic and neglected diseases but also enhanced surveillance would help to arrest Trypanosomiasis in Malawi and elsewhere on the globe. It was therefore the aim of this review to assess the implications of Trypanosomiasis disease detection limitations on prevention and control.
Keywords:
Drug Resistance, Food Security, Human Health, Multisectoral, Tsetse Flies, ZoonoticDownloads
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