Evaluating the Financial Return for Controlling African Animal Trypanosomiasis in Resource Poor Remote Communities of Eastern Zambia

The effectiveness of trypanosomiasis control methods has been reported in several studies with financial analyses of estimated costs of control based on retrospective data. This study was a prospective cohort study using incidence data to assess current treatments for African animal trypanosomiasis (AAT) used in Zambia and their cost effectiveness in controlling the disease in cattle. The study was undertaken between February 2019 and March 2020 in cattle (n = 227) under four treatment groups (Berenil inoculation, Samorin inoculation, Cyfluthrin pour-on and Cypermethrin treated targets) in Mambwe district of eastern Zambia. Monthly incidence rates were calculated using PCR as a diagnostic test. Baseline trypanosome incidence rates were higher for all four treatment groups compared to incidence rates after initiation of the treatments. The Cypermethrin target group showed a greater impact on incidence than the Cyfluthrin pour-on, Samorin inoculation, and Berenil inoculation treatment groups, respectively. The economic impact of the four interventions under study, were quantified using a stochastic partial budget analysis. The distribution functions for the net returns of each control treatments calculated in the partial budget were then modelled using the software programme @RISK 8.2. The median net returns from the distribution functions showed that the Samorin inoculation group had a net return greater than the Cypermethrin target and Berenil inoculation groups, whilst the returns for the Berenil inoculation group were greater than that of the Cyfluthrin pour-on group. Sensitivity analysis showed that additional returns due to births from lower mortality rates had the highest effect on the financial net return for the Samorin inoculation, Berenil inoculation and Cyfluthrin pour-on groups while, costs no longer incurred due to deaths had the highest effect on the financial net return for the Cypermethrin target group. All treatments yielded a positive net return despite but varying net values. The Samorin group showed the greatest return, but the target group showed the greatest impact on incidence. The impact of a trypanosomiasis control method on AAT incidence does not determine its financial net return. The Samorin inoculation treatment is a more cost-effective method for controlling AAT for small scale farmers in resource poor remote communities of eastern Zambia while Cypermethrin treated targets may be the most appropriate option for government sponsored control programmes.