Veterinary Science & Technology

Association between Genital Ulceration and Body Condition of Olive Baboon (Papio Anubis) In the Lake Manyara National Park

Abstract

Emmanuel H. Lyimo* and Benedicto Njavile

Genital ulceration disease in olive baboon (Papio anubis) caused by Treponema Pallidum, the disease causes moderate to severe genital ulceration in the population of an olive baboon. The study on the association between genital ulceration and body condition of olive baboons was conducted in the Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania. The study investigated the body condition of affected and non-affected olive baboons across an observation of 599 and reveals the proportion of affected and non-affected in the surveyed population. A pair of binoculars (10 x 50) were used whenever the located individual was observed healthy or with a clinical sign.

QGIS version 3.1 was used to map baboon distribution in the study area. R-studio version 2.3.1 was used to test the association between body condition and affected olive baboon. Results revealed that a total number of 104 individuals, 56 males 47 females were affected. Results also indicated that there is a positive association between the body condition and the affected baboon, R=0.23, while there is a negative association on non-affected individuals’ correlation R=-0.45.

The proportion shows significant variation between affected and non-affected individuals, χ²=53.772, df=17, P=0.001. On the other hand, the affected baboons revealed more emaciation, alopecia hand, rough hair signs compared to non-affected individuals. The most affected sex was female however there is no significant variation of sex in affected individuals χ²=65.03, df=51, P= 0.08941. It is concluded that Treponema pallidum infection with genital lesion associated with body condition is common in baboons of Lake the Manyara National Park.