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Abstract
Systematically tracking and analysing reproductive loss in livestock helps with efforts to safeguard the health and productivity of food animals by identifying causes and high-risk areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Akpan
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Michael Okpara University of AgricultureUmuahiaNigeria
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2
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Robi DT, Bogale A, Temteme S, Aleme M, Urge B. Using participatory epidemiology to investigate the causes of cattle abortion in Southwest Ethiopia. Heliyon 2024; 10:e25726. [PMID: 38390138 PMCID: PMC10881556 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Cattle abortion, stemming from both infectious and non-infectious causes, lead to notable financial setbacks in the cattle industry. Between October 2020 and October 2021, an epidemiological investigation took place in Southwest Ethiopia. The objective was to determine the magnitude and seasonal occurrence of the presumed causes of cattle abortion. Information for this research was collected through 30 group discussions, each involving 8-12 participants. Various participatory epidemiological tools, including semi-structured interviews, pairwise ranking, matrix scoring, proportional piling, and seasonal calendars, were employed in the designated areas. By employing the pairwise ranking approach, the relative significance of presumed causes contributing to cattle abortion was established. The identified major presumed causes of cattle abortion, listed in increasing order of importance, were blackleg, foot-and-mouth disease, pasteurellosis, lumpy skin disease, listeriosis, trypanosomosis, Q fever, leptospirosis, and brucellosis. Participants identified brucellosis (6.1%), leptospirosis (6.0%), and Q-fever (5.7%) as the primary presumed causes of abortion, determined through proportional piling. Matrix scoring analysis indicated a robust agreement (W = 0.464-0.989; P < 0.001) among different informant groups regarding both the presumed causes of abortion and the associated clinical signs. Brucellosis and Q-fever were perceived to be more prevalent during the dry season, while leptospirosis, listeriosis, and lumpy skin disease were associated with the wet, hot, and rainy seasons. However, Pasteurellosis, blackleg, and physical/mechanical factors were deemed to be consistently encountered causes of abortion throughout the year. The patterns of seasonal occurrence of suspected abortion causes were widely acknowledged across informant groups (W = 0.977-0.863; P < 0.001). Local practices involving herbal remedies and traditional methods were employed by participants to manage cattle abortion. Moreover, the results underscore the necessity for additional laboratory research to pinpoint the exact causes of abortion in the study areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dereje Tulu Robi
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Tepi Agricultural Research Center, P.O Box: 34, Tepi, Ethiopia
| | - Ararsa Bogale
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Holeta Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 2003, Holeta, Ethiopia
| | - Shiferaw Temteme
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Tepi Agricultural Research Center, P.O Box: 34, Tepi, Ethiopia
| | - Melkam Aleme
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Tepi Agricultural Research Center, P.O Box: 34, Tepi, Ethiopia
| | - Beksisa Urge
- Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Holeta Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 2003, Holeta, Ethiopia
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3
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Gachohi J, Njoki P, Mogoa E, Otieno F, Muturi M, Mwatondo A, Ngere I, Dawa J, Nasimiyu C, Osoro E, Bett B, Njenga K. Higher livestock abortion burden in arid and semi-arid lands, Kenya, 2019-2020. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0297274. [PMID: 38386647 PMCID: PMC10883554 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Tracking livestock abortion patterns over time and across factors such as species and agroecological zones (AEZs) could inform policies to mitigate disease emergence, zoonoses risk, and reproductive losses. We conducted a year-long population-based active surveillance of livestock abortion between 2019 and 2020, in administrative areas covering 52% of Kenya's landmass and home to 50% of Kenya's livestock. Surveillance sites were randomly selected to represent all AEZs in the country. Local animal health practitioners electronically transmitted weekly abortion reports from each ward, the smallest administrative unit, to a central server, using a simple short messaging service (SMS). Data were analyzed descriptively by administrative unit, species, and AEZ to reveal spatiotemporal patterns and relationships with rainfall and temperature. Of 23,766 abortions reported in all livestock species, sheep and goats contributed 77%, with goats alone contributing 53%. Seventy-seven per cent (n = 18,280) of these abortions occurred in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) that primarily practice pastoralism production systems. While spatiotemporal clustering of cases was observed in May-July 2019 in the ASALs, there was a substantial seasonal fluctuation across AEZs. Kenya experiences high livestock abortion rates, most of which go unreported. We recommend further research to document the national true burden of abortions. In ASALs, studies linking pathogen, climate, and environmental surveillance are needed to assign livestock abortions to infectious or non-infectious aetiologies and conducting human acute febrile illnesses surveillance to detect any links with the abortions.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Gachohi
- Department of Environmental Health and Disease Control, School of Public Health, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya
- Washington State University Global Health Program, Washington State University, Nairobi, Kenya
- Paul G. Allen School of Global Health, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
| | - Peris Njoki
- Washington State University Global Health Program, Washington State University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Eddy Mogoa
- Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Fredrick Otieno
- Animal and human health Program, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Mathew Muturi
- Animal and human health Program, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
- Kenya Zoonotic Disease Unit, Nairobi, Kenya
- Dahlem Research School (DRS), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Athman Mwatondo
- Animal and human health Program, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
- Kenya Zoonotic Disease Unit, Nairobi, Kenya
- Kenya One Health Platform, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Isaac Ngere
- Washington State University Global Health Program, Washington State University, Nairobi, Kenya
- Paul G. Allen School of Global Health, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
| | - Jeanette Dawa
- Washington State University Global Health Program, Washington State University, Nairobi, Kenya
- Paul G. Allen School of Global Health, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
| | - Carolyne Nasimiyu
- Washington State University Global Health Program, Washington State University, Nairobi, Kenya
- Paul G. Allen School of Global Health, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
| | - Eric Osoro
- Washington State University Global Health Program, Washington State University, Nairobi, Kenya
- Paul G. Allen School of Global Health, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
| | - Bernard Bett
- Animal and human health Program, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Kariuki Njenga
- Washington State University Global Health Program, Washington State University, Nairobi, Kenya
- Paul G. Allen School of Global Health, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
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4
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Nogarol C, Marchino M, Scala S, Belvedere M, Renna G, Vitale N, Mandola ML. Seroprevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Chlamydia abortus Infection in Sheep and Goats in North-Western Italy. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:291. [PMID: 38254460 PMCID: PMC10812754 DOI: 10.3390/ani14020291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia abortus, although poorly recognized as a human pathogen, is a zoonotic microorganism that can cause many different symptoms in humans, including subclinical infection and fatal illnesses in pregnant women. C. abortus is one of the most common causes of ovine and caprine infectious abortion worldwide, known as the causative agent of the enzootic abortion of ewes (EAE) or ovine enzootic abortion (OEA). To estimate C. abortus seroprevalence and the risk factors related to C. abortus in small ruminants, the sera from 3045 animals (both sheep and goat) belonging to 202 herds were tested and a questionnaire investigating flock management was administered. At the herd level, the true seroprevalence was 56.6% (CI95%: 46.9-66.3%), at sheep-farm and goat-farm level, the true seroprevalence was 71.4% (CI95%: 54.6-88.3%) and 44.8% (CI95%: 41.3-57.0%), respectively. The true seroprevalence was significantly higher among the sheep than the goats. The logistic regression model identified four factors associated with Chlamydia seropositivity: flock size (i.e., farms with >50 heads), contact with cattle, introduction of animals, and Coxiella seropositivity. The study evidenced a high seroprevalence of Chlamydia abortus in small ruminant farms in the Piedmont region. Considering its zoonotic potential and the health consequences in humans, communication to farmers on the importance of vaccination, as well as the sensibilization of farm vets, seem to be strategical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Nogarol
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, S.S. Diagnostica Virologica Specialistica, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy; (C.N.)
| | - Monica Marchino
- Servizio Veterinario ASL TO5, S.C. Sanità Animale, 10023 Chieri, Italy;
| | - Sonia Scala
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, S.S. Diagnostica Virologica Specialistica, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy; (C.N.)
| | - Manuela Belvedere
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, S.S. Diagnostica Virologica Specialistica, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy; (C.N.)
| | - Giovanna Renna
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, S.S. Diagnostica Virologica Specialistica, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy; (C.N.)
| | - Nicoletta Vitale
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, S.S. Osservatorio delle Regioni, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy;
| | - Maria Lucia Mandola
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, S.S. Diagnostica Virologica Specialistica, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy; (C.N.)
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Hecker YP, González-Ortega S, Cano S, Ortega-Mora LM, Horcajo P. Bovine infectious abortion: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1249410. [PMID: 37841464 PMCID: PMC10570746 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1249410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present systematic review and meta-analysis was to identify the main infectious agents related to bovine abortion worldwide in the period between 2000 and 2022. First, we investigated the global prevalence of infectious agents related to bovine abortion. For this analysis, only 27 articles detected of a wide panel of agents were included. The random effects model revealed that the estimated prevalence of the abortifacient agents in bovine abortion was 45.7%. The heterogeneity among studies was high, but Egger's test showed that there was no publication bias, even though the total number of samples analyzed in these articles was variable. There was no significant effect of the year of the study publication on the estimated prevalence, although an increasing trend was observed over time, possibly due to the implementation of new diagnostic techniques. Then, we analyzed the prevalence of the main transmissible agents in bovine abortion. For this analysis, 76 studies that analyzed 19,070 cases were included. Some infectious agent was detected in 7,319 specimens, and a final diagnosis was reached in 3,977 of these, when both the infectious agent and compatible histopathological changes were detected. We found that Neospora caninum was the most detected agent (22.2%), followed by opportunistic bacteria (21.4%), Chlamydiaceae family (10.9%) and Coxiella burnetii (9.5%). Regarding viral agents, bovine herpes virus type 1 and bovine viral diarrhea displayed similar prevalence rates (approximately 5%). After considering the description of specific histopathological changes, our analyzes showed that N. caninum was a confirmed cause of abortion in 16.7% of the analyzed cases, followed by opportunistic bacteria (12.6%) and Chlamydia spp. (6.8%); however, C. burnetii was only confirmed as a cause of abortion in 1.1% of the cases. For all agents, the heterogeneity among studies was high, and the subgroup analyzes discarded the diagnostic method as the cause of such heterogeneity. This study provides knowledge about the global prevalence of the different infectious agents related to bovine abortion, the most coming of which is N. caninum. In addition, this review reveals the existing deficiencies in the diagnosis of bovine abortion that must be addressed in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanina Paola Hecker
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Institute of Innovation for Agricultural Production and Sustainable Development (IPADS Balcarce), INTA-CONICET, Balcarce, Argentina
| | - Sara González-Ortega
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Santiago Cano
- Computing Services, Research Support Center, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis Miguel Ortega-Mora
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pilar Horcajo
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Muturi M, Mwatondo A, Nijhof AM, Akoko J, Nyamota R, Makori A, Nyamai M, Nthiwa D, Wambua L, Roesel K, Thumbi SM, Bett B. Ecological and subject-level drivers of interepidemic Rift Valley fever virus exposure in humans and livestock in Northern Kenya. Sci Rep 2023; 13:15342. [PMID: 37714941 PMCID: PMC10504342 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42596-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Nearly a century after the first reports of Rift Valley fever (RVF) were documented in Kenya, questions on the transmission dynamics of the disease remain. Specifically, data on viral maintenance in the quiescent years between epidemics is limited. We implemented a cross-sectional study in northern Kenya to determine the seroprevalence, risk factors, and ecological predictors of RVF in humans and livestock during an interepidemic period. Six hundred seventy-six human and 1,864 livestock samples were screened for anti-RVF Immunoglobulin G (IgG). Out of the 1,864 livestock samples tested for IgG, a subset of 1,103 samples was randomly selected for additional testing to detect the presence of anti-RVFV Immunoglobulin M (IgM). The anti-RVF virus (RVFV) IgG seropositivity in livestock and humans was 21.7% and 28.4%, respectively. RVFV IgM was detected in 0.4% of the livestock samples. Participation in the slaughter of livestock and age were positively associated with RVFV exposure in humans, while age was a significant factor in livestock. We detected significant interaction between rainfall and elevation's influence on livestock seropositivity, while in humans, elevation was negatively associated with RVF virus exposure. The linear increase of human and livestock exposure with age suggests an endemic transmission cycle, further corroborated by the detection of IgM antibodies in livestock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathew Muturi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Dahlem Research School of Biomedical Sciences (DRS), Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
- International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
- Kenya Zoonotic Disease Unit, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture, Nairobi, Kenya.
- Center for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis-University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Athman Mwatondo
- International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
- Kenya Zoonotic Disease Unit, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Ard M Nijhof
- Veterinary Centre for Resistance Research, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Univesität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - James Akoko
- International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Anita Makori
- Center for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis-University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
- Paul G Allen School for Global Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Mutono Nyamai
- Center for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis-University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
- Paul G Allen School for Global Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Daniel Nthiwa
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Embu, Embu, Kenya
| | - Lilian Wambua
- International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - S M Thumbi
- Center for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis-University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
- Paul G Allen School for Global Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
- Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Bernard Bett
- International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
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Alzuguren O, Domínguez L, Chacón G, Benito AA, Mencía-Ares O. Infectious abortions in small domestic ruminants in the Iberian Peninsula: Optimization of sampling procedures for molecular diagnostics. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1152289. [PMID: 36968459 PMCID: PMC10033884 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1152289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionInfectious abortions have a major impact on small domestic ruminant farms, i.e., sheep and goats, both in terms of profitability and health status. Therefore, rapid and sensitive diagnosis is essential to minimize losses. Currently, molecular techniques, such as qPCR, are routinely used for their diagnosis, which imply the need to manipulate all abortive material, with consequent biosafety risks. Here, we evaluate the frequency of the main abortifacient pathogens in small domestic ruminants in the Iberian Peninsula and also assess an alternative approach for the optimization of sampling for molecular diagnosis.ResultsA total of 392 clinical cases were analyzed from April 2020 to May 2021, evidencing that the main causative agents of abortion detected were Coxiella burnetii (49.0%), Chlamydia abortus (38.3%) and, to a lesser extent, Toxoplasma gondii (10.2%), Salmonella enterica (7.1%) and Campylobacter spp. (6.1%). An uneven distribution of these pathogens was observed between ruminant species, with a higher frequency (p < 0.05) of T. gondii, S. enterica and Campylobacter spp. in sheep than goat abortions, and among geographic areas, highlighting the higher frequency (p < 0.05) of T. gondii and Campylobacter spp. in the north compared to southeastern Spain. The alternative sampling method, consisting on the use of fetal tongues and placental swabs in replacement of the whole fetus and placental tissue, offered a very good agreement with the classical method for all pathogens, except for low concentrations of C. burnetii, which seems to have a doubtful role in abortion when its concentration in the abortifacient material is low.ConclusionsThis study reveals a high frequency of infectious etiology in abortions of small domestic ruminants in the Iberian Peninsula and validates for the first time an alternative sampling method for molecular diagnosis that will help to provide rapid and accurate results while minimizing biosafety risks.
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Ngoshe YB, Etter E, Gomez-Vazquez JP, Thompson PN. Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Communal Livestock Farmers regarding Animal Health and Zoonoses in Far Northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 20:511. [PMID: 36612830 PMCID: PMC9819478 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The presence of zoonotic diseases adversely affects livestock production and farmers' livelihood in communal areas. A lack of awareness about zoonotic diseases among rural farmers results in economic losses and health risks. The far north-eastern corner of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province, South Africa, is home to large numbers of communal livestock farmers who live adjacent to wildlife reserves and international borders. There have been reports of zoonotic and trade-sensitive diseases in the area, but farmers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) in this regard are poorly understood. This study investigated the KAPs of communal livestock farmers in far northern KZN regarding livestock and zoonotic diseases found in the livestock-wildlife interface and determined the constraints and challenges faced by communal livestock farmers. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among 504 livestock farmers at 45 dip tanks between August and November 2020, using a closed-ended questionnaire. Although the overall level of knowledge regarding animal disease transmission was fairly good (score: 53.2%), 25.4% and 21.4% of farmers had moderate and poor knowledge, respectively, about zoonotic disease transmission and prevention. Over 40% of the farmers were not aware of the zoonotic nature of wildlife and livestock diseases. Older farmers, despite their lower level of education, were more knowledgeable on animal diseases and had better practices in regard to zoonotic disease prevention and management compared to younger ones. The majority of farmers cited the lack of water, insufficient grazing land, stock theft, the restriction of animal movement, and animal diseases as the most significant challenges they faced regarding animal production. The results indicate the need for extension programs that target educating livestock farmers to improve their knowledge of these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuf Bitrus Ngoshe
- Epidemiology Section, Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
| | - Eric Etter
- Epidemiology Section, Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
- ASTRE, University of Montpellier, CIRAD, INRA, F-34000 Montpellier, France
- CIRAD, UMR Animal, Santé, Territoires, Risque et Ecosystèmes (ASTRE), F-97170 Petit-Bourg, France
| | - Jose Pablo Gomez-Vazquez
- Center for Disease Modelling and Surveillance (CADMS), University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Peter N. Thompson
- Epidemiology Section, Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
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9
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de Glanville WA, Allan KJ, Nyarobi JM, Thomas KM, Lankester F, Kibona TJ, Claxton JR, Brennan B, Carter RW, Crump JA, Halliday JEB, Ladbury G, Mmbaga BT, Mramba F, Nyasebwa OM, Rubach MP, Rostal MK, Sanka P, Swai ES, Szemiel AM, Willett BJ, Cleaveland S. An outbreak of Rift Valley fever among peri-urban dairy cattle in northern Tanzania. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2022; 116:1082-1090. [PMID: 36040309 PMCID: PMC9623736 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trac076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human and animal cases of Rift Valley fever (RVF) are typically only reported during large outbreaks. The occurrence of RVF cases that go undetected by national surveillance systems in the period between these outbreaks is considered likely. The last reported cases of RVF in Tanzania occurred during a large outbreak in 2007-2008. METHODS Samples collected between 2017 and 2019 from livestock suffering abortion across northern Tanzania were retrospectively tested for evidence of RVF virus infection using serology and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). RESULTS A total of 14 RVF-associated cattle abortions were identified among dairy cattle in a peri-urban area surrounding the town of Moshi. RVF cases occurred from May to August 2018 and were considered to represent an undetected, small-scale RVF outbreak. Milk samples from 3 of 14 cases (21%) were found to be RT-qPCR positive. Genotyping revealed circulation of RVF viruses from two distinct lineages. CONCLUSIONS RVF outbreaks can occur more often in endemic settings than would be expected on the basis of detection by national surveillance. The occurrence of RVF cases among peri-urban dairy cattle and evidence for viral shedding in milk, also highlights potentially emerging risks for RVF associated with increasing urban and peri-urban livestock populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- William A de Glanville
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.,University of Global Health Equity, Kigali 6955, Rwanda
| | - Kathryn J Allan
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.,School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - James M Nyarobi
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.,Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha 255, Tanzania
| | - Kate M Thomas
- Centre for International Health, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.,Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Moshi 2236, Tanzania
| | - Felix Lankester
- Paul G. Allen School for Global Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.,Global Animal Health Tanzania, Arusha 1642, Tanzania
| | - Tito J Kibona
- Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha 255, Tanzania
| | - John R Claxton
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Benjamin Brennan
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK
| | - Ryan W Carter
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - John A Crump
- Centre for International Health, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.,Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.,Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA.,Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Tumaini University, Moshi 3010, Tanzania
| | - Jo E B Halliday
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Georgia Ladbury
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Blandina T Mmbaga
- Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Moshi 2236, Tanzania.,Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.,Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Tumaini University, Moshi 3010, Tanzania
| | - Furaha Mramba
- Tanzania Veterinary Laboratory Agency, Dar es Salaam 9254, Tanzania
| | | | - Matthew P Rubach
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.,Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA.,Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-National University of Singapore, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Melinda K Rostal
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.,EcoHealth Alliance, New York, NY 10018, USA
| | - Paul Sanka
- Tanzania Veterinary Laboratory Agency, Dar es Salaam 9254, Tanzania
| | | | - Agnieszka M Szemiel
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK
| | - Brian J Willett
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK
| | - Sarah Cleaveland
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
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de Glanville WA, Nyarobi JM, Kibona T, Halliday JEB, Thomas KM, Allan KJ, Johnson PCD, Davis A, Lankester F, Claxton JR, Rostal MK, Carter RW, de Jong RMF, Rubach MP, Crump JA, Mmbaga BT, Nyasebwa OM, Swai ES, Willett B, Cleaveland S. Inter-epidemic Rift Valley fever virus infection incidence and risks for zoonotic spillover in northern Tanzania. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010871. [PMID: 36306281 PMCID: PMC9665400 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a mosquito-borne pathogen that has caused epidemics involving people and animals across Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. A number of studies have found evidence for the circulation of RVFV among livestock between these epidemics but the population-level incidence of infection during this inter-epidemic period (IEP) is rarely reported. General force of infection (FOI) models were applied to age-adjusted cross-sectional serological data to reconstruct the annual FOI and population-level incidence of RVFV infection among cattle, goats, and sheep in northern Tanzania from 2009 through 2015, a period without reported Rift Valley fever (RVF) cases in people or animals. To evaluate the potential for zoonotic RVFV spillover during this period, the relationship between village-level livestock RVFV FOI and human RVFV seropositivity was quantified using multi-level logistic regression. The predicted average annual incidence was 72 (95% Credible Interval [CrI] 63, 81) RVFV infections per 10,000 animals and 96 (95% CrI 81, 113), 79 (95% CrI 62, 98), and 39 (95% CrI 28, 52) per 10,000 cattle, sheep, and goats, respectively. There was variation in transmission intensity between study villages, with the highest estimated village-level FOI 2.49% (95% CrI 1.89, 3.23) and the lowest 0.12% (95% CrI 0.02, 0.43). The human RVFV seroprevalence was 8.2% (95% Confidence Interval 6.2, 10.9). Human seropositivity was strongly associated with the village-level FOI in livestock, with the odds of seropositivity in an individual person increasing by around 1.2 times (95% CrI 1.1, 1.3) for each additional annual RVFV seroconversion per 1,000 animals. A history of raw milk consumption was also positively associated with human seropositivity. RVFV has circulated at apparently low levels among livestock in northern Tanzania in the period since the last reported epidemic. Although our data do not allow us to confirm human RVFV infections during the IEP, a strong association between human seropositivity and the FOI in cattle, goats, and sheep supports the hypothesis that RVFV circulation among livestock during the IEP poses a risk for undetected zoonotic spillover in northern Tanzania. We provide further evidence for the likely role of raw milk consumption in RVFV transmission from animals to people.
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Affiliation(s)
- William A. de Glanville
- School of Biodiversity, One Health, and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- University of Global Health Equity, Kigali, Rwanda
- * E-mail: (WAdG); (SC)
| | - James M. Nyarobi
- School of Biodiversity, One Health, and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha, Tanzania
| | - Tito Kibona
- Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha, Tanzania
| | - Jo E. B. Halliday
- School of Biodiversity, One Health, and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Kate M. Thomas
- Centre for International Health, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Moshi, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Kathryn J. Allan
- School of Biodiversity, One Health, and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Paul C. D. Johnson
- School of Biodiversity, One Health, and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Alicia Davis
- School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Felix Lankester
- Paul G. Allen School for Global Health, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America
- Global Animal Health Tanzania, Arusha, Tanzania
| | - John R. Claxton
- School of Biodiversity, One Health, and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Melinda K. Rostal
- School of Biodiversity, One Health, and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- EcoHealth Alliance, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Ryan W. Carter
- School of Biodiversity, One Health, and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Rosanne M. F. de Jong
- School of Biodiversity, One Health, and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew P. Rubach
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duke-National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - John A. Crump
- Centre for International Health, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Tumaini University, Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Blandina T. Mmbaga
- Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Moshi, United Republic of Tanzania
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Tumaini University, Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Obed M. Nyasebwa
- Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Dodoma, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Emanuel S. Swai
- Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Dodoma, United Republic of Tanzania
| | - Brian Willett
- MRC University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Cleaveland
- School of Biodiversity, One Health, and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (WAdG); (SC)
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Benavides J, González-Warleta M, Arteche-Villasol N, Pérez V, Mezo M, Gutiérrez-Expósito D. Ovine Neosporosis: The Current Global Situation. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12162074. [PMID: 36009665 PMCID: PMC9405361 DOI: 10.3390/ani12162074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary This review summarizes the current global situation of Neospora caninum infection in sheep by referring to all of the available descriptions of natural ovine neosporosis to date, focusing on epidemiology, clinical signs, lesions, and diagnosis. The data suggest that ovine neosporosis is more prevalent than currently thought, that it has increased in the last few decades, and that it should now be considered in the differential diagnosis when investigating abortion in sheep. Abstract In the past 20 years, Neospora caninum infection in sheep has been reported in at least 31 countries worldwide from all sheep-rearing continents (Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa, and Oceania), and its role as an abortifacient agent is becoming more evident. Most studies of ovine neosporosis have focused on its epidemiology, based primarily on serological analysis, with only a few studies investigating the actual presence of the parasite by PCR and/or IHC. Individual seroprevalence rates were highly variable between countries, and even between regions within the same country, ranging from 0.0% to 67.4% positive. Furthermore, most of the studies were not directly comparable due to differences in experimental designs, sample sizes, husbandry systems, ecological factors, and serological tests (e.g., IFAT, ELISA, MAT, Western blot). The latter, along with the scarcity of studies on the relevance of N. caninum as an abortifacient agent, may bias the perception of the importance of this disease. This review summarizes the situation of N. caninum infection in sheep using all available published studies describing natural ovine neosporosis. The epidemiology shows that ovine neosporosis is found worldwide, and it poses a relevant risk to the sustainability of sheep flocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julio Benavides
- Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña, CSIC-University of Leon, Grulleros, 24346 León, Spain
| | - Marta González-Warleta
- Centro de Investigaciones Agrarias de Mabegondo, Parasitology Laboratory, Axencia Galega da Calidade Alimentaria (AGACAL)-Xunta de Galicia, Ctra, Betanzos a Mesón do Vento km 7, Abegondo, 15318 A Coruña, Spain
| | - Noive Arteche-Villasol
- Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña, CSIC-University of Leon, Grulleros, 24346 León, Spain
- Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Leon, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071 León, Spain
| | - Valentín Pérez
- Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña, CSIC-University of Leon, Grulleros, 24346 León, Spain
- Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Leon, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071 León, Spain
| | - Mercedes Mezo
- Centro de Investigaciones Agrarias de Mabegondo, Parasitology Laboratory, Axencia Galega da Calidade Alimentaria (AGACAL)-Xunta de Galicia, Ctra, Betanzos a Mesón do Vento km 7, Abegondo, 15318 A Coruña, Spain
| | - Daniel Gutiérrez-Expósito
- Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña, CSIC-University of Leon, Grulleros, 24346 León, Spain
- Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Leon, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071 León, Spain
- Correspondence:
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