Affiliation:
1. Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation, Kenya
Abstract
Heartwater (HW) is an acute, febrile, tick-borne disease of cattle, sheep, goats, and wild ruminants characterized by nervous signs and high mortality. The disease is caused by a rickettsia agent, Erlichia ruminantium, formally classified as Cowdria ruminantium. The disease is transmitted by several ixodid ticks of the genus Ambylomma. Chemoprophylaxis has been used as a method to facilitate the movement of heartwater susceptible stock into heartwater endemic areas while allowing them to acquire immunity by limited tick exposure.
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