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Ibeagha-Awemu EM, Peters SO, Bemji MN, Adeleke MA, Do DN. Leveraging Available Resources and Stakeholder Involvement for Improved Productivity of African Livestock in the Era of Genomic Breeding. Front Genet 2019; 10:357. [PMID: 31105739 PMCID: PMC6499167 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The African continent is home to diverse populations of livestock breeds adapted to harsh environmental conditions with more than 70% under traditional systems of management. Animal productivity is less than optimal in most cases and is faced with numerous challenges including limited access to adequate nutrition and disease management, poor institutional capacities and lack of adequate government policies and funding to develop the livestock sector. Africa is home to about 1.3 billion people and with increasing demand for animal proteins by an ever growing human population, the current state of livestock productivity creates a significant yield gap for animal products. Although a greater section of the population, especially those living in rural areas depend largely on livestock for their livelihoods; the potential of the sector remains underutilized and therefore unable to contribute significantly to economic development and social wellbeing of the people. With current advances in livestock management practices, breeding technologies and health management, and with inclusion of all stakeholders, African livestock populations can be sustainably developed to close the animal protein gap that exists in the continent. In particular, advances in gene technologies, and application of genomic breeding in many Western countries has resulted in tremendous gains in traits like milk production with the potential that, implementation of genomic selection and other improved practices (nutrition, healthcare, etc.) can lead to rapid improvement in traits of economic importance in African livestock populations. The African livestock populations in the context of this review are limited to cattle, goat, pig, poultry, and sheep, which are mainly exploited for meat, milk, and eggs. This review examines the current state of livestock productivity in Africa, the main challenges faced by the sector, the role of various stakeholders and discusses in-depth strategies that can enable the application of genomic technologies for rapid improvement of livestock traits of economic importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eveline M. Ibeagha-Awemu
- Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Sunday O. Peters
- Department of Animal Science, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA, United States
| | - Martha N. Bemji
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Abeokuta, Nigeria
| | - Matthew A. Adeleke
- School of Life Sciences, University of Kwazulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Duy N. Do
- Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
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Matos CA, Gonçalves LR, de Souza Ramos IA, Mendes NS, Zanatto DCS, André MR, Machado RZ. Molecular detection and characterization of Ehrlichia ruminantium from cattle in Mozambique. Acta Trop 2019; 191:198-203. [PMID: 30639470 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Revised: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Heartwater caused by Ehrlichia ruminantiumis a disease of domestic and wild ruminants and one of the most economically important tick-borne diseases in Africa. The present study aimed to investigate the occurrence and genetic diversity of E. ruminantium in blood samples from 210 cattle sampled in five districts of Maputo Province, Mozambique. DNA blood samples were initially submitted to PCR assays targeting E. ruminantium pCS20 gene fragments. Additionally, in order to assess the genetic diversity of E. ruminantium, the positive samples were submitted to a PCR assay targeting the E. ruminantium map1 gene. Finally, the amplicons were sequenced and phylogenetic position was inferred using the Maximum Likelihood method. PCR results revealed that the overall prevalence in Maputo Province was 15% of the animals sampled. E. ruminantium map1 sequences showed not to be conserved. In the phylogenetic analysis, E. ruminantium map1 genotypes were positioned into multiple-clades. This study provides information on the prevalence and genetic diversity of E. ruminantium in five localities of Maputo Province. The future immune control strategies against local E. ruminantium must be designed in the light of the genetic diversity of this parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos António Matos
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Departamento de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV), Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil; Direcção de Ciências Animais, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Luiz Ricardo Gonçalves
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Departamento de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV), Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Inalda Angélica de Souza Ramos
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Departamento de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV), Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Natalia Serra Mendes
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Departamento de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV), Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Diego Carlos Souza Zanatto
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Departamento de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV), Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Marcos Rogério André
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Departamento de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV), Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Rosangela Zacarias Machado
- Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Departamento de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV), Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil.
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Mwai O, Hanotte O, Kwon YJ, Cho S. African Indigenous Cattle: Unique Genetic Resources in a Rapidly Changing World. ASIAN-AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCES 2015; 28:911-21. [PMID: 26104394 PMCID: PMC4478499 DOI: 10.5713/ajas.15.0002r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
At least 150 indigenous African cattle breeds have been named, but the majority of African cattle populations remain largely uncharacterized. As cattle breeds and populations in Africa adapted to various local environmental conditions, they acquired unique features. We know now that the history of African cattle was particularly complex and while several of its episodes remain debated, there is no doubt that African cattle population evolved dramatically over time. Today, we find a mosaic of genetically diverse population from the purest Bos taurus to the nearly pure Bos indicus. African cattle are now found all across the continent, with the exception of the Sahara and the river Congo basin. They are found on the rift valley highlands as well as below sea level in the Afar depression. These unique livestock genetic resources are in danger to disappear rapidly following uncontrolled crossbreeding and breed replacements with exotic breeds. Breeding improvement programs of African indigenous livestock remain too few while paradoxically the demand of livestock products is continually increasing. Many African indigenous breeds are endangered now, and their unique adaptive traits may be lost forever. This paper reviews the unique known characteristics of indigenous African cattle populations while describing the opportunities, the necessity and urgency to understand and utilize these resources to respond to the needs of the people of the continent and to the benefit of African farmers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Okeyo Mwai
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Olivier Hanotte
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Young-Jun Kwon
- Interdisciplinary Program in Bioinformatics, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Korea
| | - Seoae Cho
- CHO&KIM genomics, Seoul 151-919, Korea
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Faburay B, Geysen D, Munstermann S, Taoufik A, Postigo M, Jongejan F. Molecular detection of Ehrlichia ruminantium infection in Amblyomma variegatum ticks in The Gambia. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2007; 42:61-74. [PMID: 17476576 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-007-9073-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2007] [Accepted: 04/09/2007] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
In West Africa, losses due to heartwater disease are not known because the incidence/prevalence has not been well studied or documented. To develop a diagnostic tool for molecular epidemiology, three PCR-based diagnostic assays, a nested pCS20 PCR, a nested map1 PCR and a nested reverse line blot (RLB) hybridization assay, were evaluated to determine their ability to detect infection in vector ticks, by applying them simultaneously to A. variegatum field ticks to detect Ehrlichia ruminantium, the causative agent of heartwater. The nested pCS20 PCR assay which amplified the pCS20 gene fragment showed the highest detection performance with a detection rate of 16.6%; the nested map1 PCR, which amplified the gene encoding the major antigenic protein1 (map1 gene) showed a detection rate of 11% and the RLB, based on the 16S rDNA sequence of anaplasma and ehrlichial species, detected 6.2%. The RLB, in addition, demonstrated molecular evidence of Ehrlichia ovina, Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma ovis infections in The Gambia. Subsequently, the pCS20 assay was applied to study the prevalence and distribution of E. ruminantium tick infection rates at different sites in five divisions of The Gambia. The rates of infection in the country ranged from 1.6% to 15.1% with higher prevalences detected at sites in the westerly divisions (Western, Lower River and North Bank; range 8.3-15.1%) than in the easterly divisions (Central River and Upper River; range 1.6-7.5%). This study demonstrated a gradient in the distribution of heartwater disease risk for susceptible livestock in The Gambia which factor must be considered in the overall design of future upgrading programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Faburay
- International Trypanotolerance Centre, PMB 14, Banjul, The Gambia.
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Bekker CP, Vink D, Lopes Pereira CM, Wapenaar W, Langa A, Jongejan F. Heartwater (Cowdria ruminantium infection) as a cause of postrestocking mortality of goats in Mozambique. CLINICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY IMMUNOLOGY 2001; 8:843-6. [PMID: 11427440 PMCID: PMC96156 DOI: 10.1128/cdli.8.4.843-846.2001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
A serological survey in Mozambique to detect antibodies to Cowdria ruminantium, the etiologic agent of heartwater, revealed a seroprevalence of 8.1% (n = 332) for goats in the northern province of Tete and of 65.6% (n = 326) for goats in the southern provinces. Translocation of 10 serologically negative goats from Tete to farms in the south resulted in two clinical cases of heartwater that were fatal. In addition, four goats seroconverted within the study period of 5 weeks. One goat showed no symptoms. Two goats died of other causes, whereas the remaining goat went missing after 1 week. Experimental needle infections of goats and sheep were conducted to confirm results and to isolate different strains of C. ruminantium. These data indicate that translocation of goats from the north to the south of Mozambique bears a high risk of C. ruminantium infection, which can cause fatal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- C P Bekker
- Division of Bacteriology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Mahan SM, Peter TF, Simbi BH, Kocan K, Camus E, Barbet AF, Burridge MJ. Comparison of efficacy of American and African Amblyomma ticks as vectors of heartwater (Cowdria ruminantium) infection by molecular analyses and transmission trials. J Parasitol 2000; 86:44-9. [PMID: 10701562 DOI: 10.1645/0022-3395(2000)086[0044:coeoaa]2.0.co;2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability of Amblyomma americanum, Amblyomma cajennense, Amblyomma maculatum, and Amblyomma variegatum to acquire and transmit Cowdria ruminantium infection was investigated. Uninfected nymphs were fed on clinically reacting C. ruminantium-infected sheep and then analyzed for infection by specific DNA detection assays and by tick transmission trials. By polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the mean infection prevalence of A. maculatum ticks (50.7%) was similar to that of A. variegatum, Elevage strain (43.5%; P = 0.83) and Petit Bourg strain (45.9%; P = 0.26) ticks. Though Amblyomma hebraeum were not tested by PCR, by DNA probe their infection prevalence was 94%. In contrast, A. americanum and A. cajennense ticks demonstrated very low susceptibility to C. ruminantium, and the prevalence of infection by PCR was approximately 1%. The higher susceptibility of A. maculatum and A. variegatum to C. ruminantium correlated with superior vector efficiency, depicted by similar prepatent periods and severity of disease transmissions to sheep. Amblyomma americanum and A. cajennense failed to transmit infection, confirming that low susceptibility to C. ruminantium correlates with the poor vector status of these species. These results highlight the importance of A. maculatum as a potential vector that is likely to play a major role in the establishment and maintenance of heartwater, if the disease were to be introduced to the U.S.A., Central, and South America.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Mahan
- University of Florida/USAID/SADC Heartwater Research Project, Central Veterinary Diagnostic and Research Laboratory, Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe
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Mahan SM, Peter TF, Semu SM, Simbi BH, Norval RA, Barbet AF. Laboratory reared Amblyomma hebraeum and Amblyomma variegatum ticks differ in their susceptibility to infection with Cowdria ruminantium. Epidemiol Infect 1995; 115:345-53. [PMID: 7589273 PMCID: PMC2271405 DOI: 10.1017/s0950268800058465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The susceptibility of laboratory reared Zimbabwean Amblyomma hebraeum and A. variegatum ticks to infection with geographically distinct Cowdria ruminantium strains was investigated by feeding both species simultaneously on individual sheep infected with one of the four strains (Crystal Springs [Zimbabwe], Ball 3 [South Africa], Gardel [Guadeloupe] and Nigeria [Nigeria]). A. hebraeum ticks demonstrated a high susceptibility to infection with all four C. ruminantium strains. In comparison, A. variegatum were less susceptible to infection with the Crystal Springs and Ball 3 strains (P < 0.001), but showed a similar susceptibility to the Gardel and Nigeria strains. The differences in susceptibility of A. variegatum to infection with the four strains of C. ruminantium correlated with the origin of these strains. The consistently higher susceptibility of A. hebraeum ticks to infection with geographically different C. ruminantium strains may be one explanation for the observation that heartwater is a more serious problem where A. hebraeum is the vector of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Mahan
- University of Florida/United States Agency for International Development/South African Development Cooperation, Heartwater Research Project, Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe
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