Tick-borne pathogens and body condition of cattle in smallholder rural livestock production systems in East and West Africa

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundThe majority of the African population lives in rural areas where they heavily depend on crop and livestock production for their livelihoods. Given their socio-economic importance, we initiated a standardized multi-country (Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia Tanzania and Uganda) surveillance study to assess the current status of important tick-borne haemoparasites (TBHPs) of cattle.MethodsWe assessed pathogen prevalences (Anaplasma marginale, Anaplasma centrale, Babesia bigemina, Babesia bovis, Ehrlichia ruminantium, andTheileria parva) in the blood of 6447 animals spread over fourteen districts (two districts per country). In addition, we screened for intrinsic (sex, weight, body condition) and extrinsic (husbandry, tick exposure) risk factors as predictors of infections with TBHPs.ResultsThere was a large macro-geographic variation observed inA. marginale, B. bigemina, B. bovisandE. ruminantiumprevalences. Most correlated with the co-occurrence of their specific sets of vector-competent ticks. Highest numbers of infected cattle were found in Ghana and Benin, and lowest in Burkina Faso. WhileT. parvawas seldomly found (Uganda only: 3.0%),A. marginalewas found in each country with a prevalence of at least 40%.Babesia bovisinfected individuals had lower body condition scores. Age (as estimated via body weight) was higher inA. marginaleinfected cattle, but was negatively correlated withB. bigeminaandE. ruminantiumprevalences.Ehrlichia ruminantiuminfection was more often found in males, andA. marginalemore often in transhumance farming. High levels of co-infection, especially the combinationA. marginale × B. bigemina, were observed in all countries, except for Uganda and Burkina Faso.Babesia bigeminawas more or less often observed than expected by chance, when cattle were also co-infected withE. ruminantiumorA. marginale, respectively.ConclusionsTick-borne pathogens of cattle are ubiquitous in African’s smallholder cattle production systems. Our standardized study will help a wide range of stakeholders to provide recommendations for TBHP surveillance and prevention in cattle, especially forB. boviswhich heavily impacts production and continues its spread over the African continent via the invasiveRhipicephalus microplustick.Graphical Abstract