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Glite Dictionary
nagana

nagana

1 9.9
A disease of cattle in Africa that makes animals weak and gives them fever and anemia
  • noun
  • South African
: nagana
  • Effective treatment for nagana is crucial to maintaining healthy livestock.
  • nagana in cattle

Examples

  • Nagana leads to fever and significant weight loss in affected animals.

  • Nagana is caused by three species of trypanosomes, unicellular blood parasites that eventually reach the brain and nerve synapses, preventing coordinated body movement.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Initial efforts in 1983 to control tsetse flies and nagana on Zanzibar were supported by FAO and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and involved pour-on insecticides applied to cattle.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Farmers in Africa struggle with nagana, as it weakens and sickens their cattle.

Synonyms

trypanosomiasis
vsnagana
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A disease caused by tiny parasites that biting insects spread to people or animals in tropical areas

refers only to the infection in animals found mainly in Africa

Surface Forms

nagana singular
naganai plural

Etymology

Nagana comes from a Southern African language, probably Zulu, where the name meant 'to be weak' or 'sick' in animals and was used by local people for that illness. So, nagana today is the name for the disease that makes cattle weak because of tiny parasites, and thinking of it as the local word for 'animal weakness' helps you remember its meaning.