Potential risk of regional disease spread in west Africa through cross-border cattle trade

Transboundary animal movements facilitate the spread of pathogens across large distances. Cross-border cattle trade is of economic and cultural importance in West Africa. This study explores the potential disease risk resulting from large-scale, cross-border cattle trade between Togo, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Benin, and Nigeria for the first time.; A questionnaire-based survey of livestock movements of 226 cattle traders was conducted in the 9 biggest cattle markets of northern Togo in February-March 2012. More than half of the traders (53.5%) operated in at least one other country. Animal flows were stochastically simulated based on reported movements and the risk of regional disease spread assessed. More than three quarters (79.2%, range: 78.1-80.0%) of cattle flowing into the market system originated from other countries. Through the cattle market system of northern Togo, non-neighbouring countries were connected via potential routes for disease spread. Even for diseases with low transmissibility and low prevalence in a given country, there was a high risk of disease introduction into other countries.; By stochastically simulating data collected by interviewing cattle traders in northern Togo, this study identifies potential risks for regional disease spread in West Africa through cross-border cattle trade. The findings highlight that surveillance for emerging infectious diseases as well as control activities targeting endemic diseases in West Africa are likely to be ineffective if only conducted at a national level. A regional approach to disease surveillance, prevention and control is essential

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] and cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walpers] intercropping improves grain yield, fodder biomass, and nutritive value

Burkina Faso livestock feeding is characterized by a hot dry season fodder deficit, which affects animal performance and causes economic losses. To overcome this challenge, improving quality fodder production through the use of dual-purpose crops is a potential alternative. Hence, this study aimed at testing dual-purpose cultivars of sorghum and cowpea under monoculture and intercropping in the North Sudan zone in Burkina Faso. To do this, a “Mother and Baby trials” approach was adopted. The mother trial was designed as a randomized complete block with eight treatments (combinations of monoculture and intercropping systems for two cowpeas and two sorghum cultivars) and four replications during two cropping seasons (2019 and 2020) at the INERA research station in Saria. The on-farm “baby” trials involved 30 farmers during two cropping seasons (2019 and 2020) in four communes: Koudougou, Poa, Nandiala, and Kokologo. Data were collected on weed biomass and density, fodder biomass and grain yield, intercropping efficiency, and fodder nutritive value. The results of the mother trial showed that intercropping significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced weed density and weed biomass. Sorghum cultivar Ponta Negra had the highest fodder biomass yield (10.05 kg DM/ha) while sorghum Sariaso16 had the highest grain yield (4.42 kg/ha). Cowpea cultivar KVx745-11P had greater fodder biomass (4.72 kg DM/ha) than Tiligré (3.28 kg DM/ha) with similar grain yield (2.17 and 2.17 kg/ha). Intercropping was the most efficient land-use cropping system for fodder biomass and grain yield improvement both in mother and baby trials. For fodder nutritive value, cultivars Sariaso16 and Ponta Negra had similar crude protein concentrations (ranging from 4.1 to 5.4%), and cowpea cultivar KVx745-11P haulms had greater crude protein (ranging from 16.9 to 20.3%). The use of Ponta Negra and KVx745-11P and Sariaso16 and KVx745-11P under intercropping is likely to optimize grain and quality fodder production for crop-livestock farmers in the North Sudan zone

Performance of food–feed maize and cowpea cultivars under monoculture and intercropping systems: Grain yield, fodder biomass, and nutritive value

Livestock feeding in Burkina Faso is characterized by a recurrent deficit in both the quality and the quantity of fodder during the dry season, which affects animal performance. To overcome this, quality fodder/forage production is an alternative. Therefore, this study evaluated food- and feed-improved cultivars of maize and cowpea in intercropping trials using the “mother and baby trials” approach with crop–livestock farmers. The mother trial comprised a randomized block design with eight treatments and four replicates: two cowpea (KVx745-11P and Tiligré) and two maize cultivars (Barka and Espoir), and grown under two cropping systems (monoculture and intercropping). Baby trials were established on-farm and involved 30 farmers during two seasons (2019 and 2020) in four villages in the South Sudan zone of Burkina Faso. Data were collected on (1) weed density and biomass, (2) grain yield and fodder biomass, (3) intercropping efficiency, and (4) fodder nutritive value. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and the least significant difference (LSD) means separation at a 5% threshold. The results revealed that maize and cowpea intercropping significantly reduced weed biomass (p ≤ 0.05). In monoculture, the maize cultivar Barka produced a greater grain yield (4980 kg/ha) and fodder biomass [6259 kg dry matter (DM)/ha] than the cultivar Espoir, which produced a grain yield of 2581 kg/ha and fodder biomass of 4952 kg DM/ha. The cowpea cultivars, KVx745-11P and Tiligré, were similar (p ≥ 0.05) in terms of fodder biomass (2435–2820 kg DM/ha) and grain yield (1152–1163 kg/ha). For the intercropping system, land equivalent ratios for fodder biomass (1.18:1.41) and grain yield (1.02:1.44) were greater than 1; intercropping also had better productivity system indexes than the monoculture cropping system. The crude protein concentration of fodder was greater for Barka maize (9.5%–9.8%) than for Espoir maize (8.5%–8.7%). The crude protein concentration was greater for cowpea KVx745-11P (19%–21.8%) than for cowpea Tiligré (15%–17%). Intercropping both Barka maize and cowpea KVx745-11P was the most productive cropping system for maximizing grain and fodder production for crop–livestock farmers in the South Sudan zone of Burkina Faso

Filiere du lait frais de vache dans la ville de Lome

Cette étude menée de mars 2010 à janvier 2011 a permis d’identifier six (6) points de vente dans différents quartier de la ville de Lomé. Des 515 litres de lait frais de vache vendus quotidiennement à Lomé, 28,9 % sont produits au Togo et 71,1 % importés du Ghana. Le lait produit au Togo et vendu à Lomé provient surtout de six (6) exploitations réparties dans trois (3) préfectures autour Lomé. Ces filières de production et de commercialisation sont surtout détenus par des nigériens (87,5 %) et burkinabè (12,5 %) qui sont tous à plus de 85,7 % analphabètes. On compte 43 % de femmes dans la vente de lait frais de vache. Depuis la production jusqu’à la consommation, le lait est manipulé à température ambiante pendant 6 à 11 heures alors qu’il y a une faible maîtrise des contenants. Le lait étant un bon milieu de culture, ces conditions de détention peuvent affecter sa qualité et représenter un risque pour le consommateur. Alors, pour une promotion du secteur de la production laitière, il y a lieu de tenir compte de la qualité du produit pour la sécurité du consommateur.Mots clés: Lait frais, filière, Production laitière, TogoEnglish Title: Fresh cow milk path in the city of LoméEnglish AbstractThis study conducted from March 2010 to January 2011 permitted to identify six (6) outlets in different districts in the city of Lome. Of 515 liters of fresh cow milk sold daily in Lome, 28.9% occurred in Togo and 71.1% imported from Ghana. Milk produced in Togo and sold in Lome comes mainly from six (6) farms located in three (3) Prefectures around Lome. These supply chains and marketing are mostly owned by people from Niger (87.5%) and Burkina (12.5%) which are all over 85.7% illiterate. There are 43% women in the path of fresh cow milk. From production to consumption, the milk is handled at room temperature for 6 to 11 hours when there is low control of containers. Milk is a good culture medium; conditions of confinement can affect its quality and generate a risk to the consumer. So, for promoting the sector of milk production, it is necessary to consider the quality of the product for consumer safety.Keywords: Fresh milk, path, milk production, Tog

Epidemiology of Brucellosis and Q Fever in Linked Human and Animal Populations in Northern Togo

BACKGROUND: Although brucellosis (Brucella spp.) and Q Fever (Coxiella burnetii) are zoonoses of global importance, very little high quality data are available from West Africa. METHODS/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A serosurvey was conducted in Togo's main livestock-raising zone in 2011 in 25 randomly selected villages, including 683 people, 596 cattle, 465 sheep and 221 goats. Additionally, 464 transhumant cattle from Burkina Faso were sampled in 2012. The serological analyses performed were the Rose Bengal Test and ELISA for brucellosis and ELISA and the immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for Q Fever Brucellosis did not appear to pose a major human health problem in the study zone, with only 7 seropositive participants. B. abortus was isolated from 3 bovine hygroma samples, and is likely to be the predominant circulating strain. This may explain the observed seropositivity amongst village cattle (9.2%, 95%CI:4.3-18.6%) and transhumant cattle (7.3%, 95%CI:3.5-14.7%), with an absence of seropositive small ruminants. Exposure of livestock and people to C. burnetii was common, potentially influenced by cultural factors. People of Fulani ethnicity had greater livestock contact and a significantly higher seroprevalence than other ethnic groups (Fulani: 45.5%, 95%CI:37.7-53.6%; non-Fulani: 27.1%, 95%CI:20.6-34.7%). Appropriate diagnostic test cut-off values in endemic settings requires further investigation. Both brucellosis and Q Fever appeared to impact on livestock production. Seropositive cows were more likely to have aborted a foetus during the previous year than seronegative cows, when adjusted for age. This odds was 3.8 times higher (95%CI: 1.2-12.1) for brucellosis and 6.7 times higher (95%CI: 1.3-34.8) for Q Fever. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first epidemiological study of zoonoses in Togo in linked human and animal populations, providing much needed data for West Africa. Exposure to Brucella and C. burnetii is common but further research is needed into the clinical and economic impact

Probability of a disease invading the cattle population of the Savannah Region in Togo through cattle trade from Burkina Faso.

<p>The probability of a disease invading the cattle population of the Savannah Region is shown as a function of the disease prevalence in Burkina Faso and the basic reproduction number of the disease, R₀. Here, R₀ relates to the potential of a disease to invade the Savannah cattle population following the introduction of an infectious animal into one of its herds.</p

Probability of a disease invading at least three other countries through cattle trade from Savannah herds.

<p>The probability of disease invasion is shown as a function of the disease prevalence in the cattle population in the Savannah region and the basic reproduction number of the disease, R₀. Here, R₀ relates to the potential of a disease to invade a cattle population in a given country, after the introduction of an infectious animal into the market system of this country.</p

Simulated flows of cattle into and out of the market system of Savannah Region, Togo.

<p>These simulated mean flows are shown for the six month dry season period, as a proportion of total flow into or out of the Savannah market system. The range of simulated values from minimum to maximum are shown as black bars.</p

Market network of the Savannah Region of Togo and degree distributions.

<p>The graph on the left shows the binary in-degree as a function of the binary out-degree, and the graph on the right shows the weighted in-degree as a function of the weighted out-degree, during the dry season. The 9 markets where the survey was conducted are coloured blue and the other 19 are red.</p

Study zone in West Africa.

<p>The study zone, the Savannah Region of northern Togo, is shaded red. The centroids of the other districts where the interviewed traders also bought or sold cattle are shown as red dots.</p