Estimated financial impact of Trypanosoma vivax on the Brazilian Pantanal and Bolivian Lowlands

The financial impact of the first outbreak of Trypanosoma vivax in the Brazilian Pantanal wetland is estimated. Results are extended to include oubreaks in the Bolivian Lowlands providing a notion of the potential influence of the disease and an anlytical basis. More than 11 million head of cattle, valued at more than US$ 3 billion are found in the Brazilian Pantanal and Bolivian lowlands. The total estimated cost of the 1995 outbreak of T. vivax is the sum of the present values of mortality, abortion, and productivity losses and treatment costs, or about 4 (por cento) of total brood cow value on affected ranches. Had the outbrak gone untreated, the estimated losses would have exceeded 17 (por cento) of total brood cow value.