Epidemiological aspects and economic impact of bovine theileriosis (East Coast fever) and its control: a preliminary assessment with special reference to Kibaha district, Tanzania.
A cross-sectional study based on clinical examination, inspection of herd health records and a questionnaire was designed to determine the epidemiology, economics and potential impact of immunisation against theileriosis in Tanzania. The results showed annual theileriosis costs to be US$ 205.40 per head, whereas the introduction of immunisation reduced this by 40-68% depending on the post immunisation dipping strategy adopted. Morbidity risk due to theileriosis was 0.048 in immunised and 0.235 in non-immunised cattle, and the difference was significant (chi(2)=66.7; P=0.000). The questionnaire results indicated that immunised cattle had a significantly (chi(2)=6; P=0.015) higher risk of anaplasmosis compared with non-immunised cattle, whereas the risk of bovine babesiosis did not differ significantly (chi(2)=0.06; P=0.807) between the two groups. Mortality risk due to anaplasmosis was 0.046 in immunised and 0.018 in non-immunised cattle and this difference was statistically significant (chi(2)=4.48; P=0.043). The theileriosis mortality risk was 0.203 in the non-immunised cattle, while the risk was 0.009 in the immunised cattle and these differences were also significant (chi(2)=103; P=0.000). It was concluded that farmers who have immunised their cattle may cautiously cut down acaricide application by 50% for extensively grazed herds and by 75% for zero grazed animals depending on the level of tick challenge at the herd level.
Kivaria
F M
FM
Animal Diseases Research Institute, P.O. Box 9254, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. fredkiv@yahoo.com
Ruheta
M R
MR
Mkonyi
P A
PA
Malamsha
P C
PC
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D007306:Insecticides / Q000494:pharmacology; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines / Q000191:economics / Q000276:immunology; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D013801:Theileriasis / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013983:Tick Control / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D014611:Vaccination / Q000662:veterinary
D007306:Insecticides; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines