Bovine tuberculosis in east Africa

The zoonotic Mycobacterium bovis is a pathogen of significance in the dairy industry in many parts of the world. Although the pathogen primarily affects cattle, it has a wide host range including humans. A cross-sectional study was carried out in three agro-ecological zones of Tanzania, namely the southern highlands zone (SHZ), eastern zone (EZ) and northern zone (NZ), to examine the status of the disease in cattle, in order to inform control measures. A total of 391, 169 and 401 cattle were tested for bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in the SHZ, EZ and NZ respectively using the Single Intradermal Comparative Cervical Tuberculin Test (SICTT). Results showed that the prevalence of bTB was higher (P<0.05) in EZ 2.37% (n = 169) compared to SHZ 1.3% (n=391) and NZ, where no positive result was recorded (n = 401). Thirty three cattle from SHZ and seven from EZ showed inconclusive results. In Kenya, 625 cattle from four sites within agro-pastoral and pastoral production systems were tested. In one area of Mwingi County, eastern Kenya, all the 161 cattle tested negative; while in the other three sites of Migori, in Nyanza, West Pokot and Laikipia in the Rift Valley, prevalence of 4-6% was obtained with SICTT. Bovine TB occurs in the region and may pose a public health threat through occupational activities and/or consumption of animal products, especially since no obvious clinical signs were observed in positive animals. Policy issues on how to deal with positive cases, creation of awareness on this important zoonotic disease, and a simple test to quickly identify sick animals in the field require urgent attention.La bact\ue9rie zoonotique Mycobacterium bovis est un agent pathog\ue8ne d\u2019importance dans l\u2019industrie laiti\ue8re partout dans le monde entier. Bien que l\u2019agent pathog\ue8ne affecte essentiellement les bovins, il peut infecter une large range d\u2019h\uf4tes l\u2019homme y compris. Une \ue9tude transversale a \ue9t\ue9 r\ue9alis\ue9e dans trois zones agro-\ue9cologiques de la Tanzanie, notamment la zone Sud (SHZ), la zone Est (EZ) et la zone Nord (NZ), afin d\u2019examiner la pr\ue9valence de cette maladie chez les bovins, en vue de d\ue9finir des mesures pour son contr\uf4le. Au total, 391, 169 et 401 bovins ont \ue9t\ue9 testes pour la tuberculose bovine (bTB) respectivement dans le SHZ, EZ et NZ. Le test Intradermique Comparatif a la Tuberculine Cervicale (SICTT). Les r\ue9sultats ont montr\ue9 que la pr\ue9valence de bTB \ue9tait \ue9lev\ue9e (p<0.05) en EZ 2.37% (n = 169) comparativement \ue0 SHZ 1.3% (n=391) et NZ, ou aucun cas positif n\u2019a \ue9t\ue9 enregistre (n = 401). Trente-trois bovins de SHZ et 7 de EZ ont montre des r\ue9sultats non conclusifs. Au Kenya, 625 bovins provenant de quatre sites au sein des syst\ue8mes de production agro-pastorale et pastorale ont \ue9t\ue9 testes. Dans une zone de Mwingi a l\u2019Est du Kenya, tous les 161 bovins ont \ue9t\ue9 testes n\ue9gative; tandis que dans les trois autres sites de Migori, en Nyanza, West Pokot et Laikipia dans la vall\ue9e du Rift, la pr\ue9valence \ue9tait de 4-6% avec le test SICTT. La tuberculose bovine est pr\ue9sent\ue9 dans la r\ue9gion et peut engendrer des menaces de sante publique au travers des activit\ue9s d\u2019\ue9levage et la consommation de viandes infect\ue9es, surtout qu\u2019aucun signe Clinique \ue9vident n\u2019a \ue9t\ue9 observe chez les animaux d\ue9pist\ue9s positifs. Il est important et urgent de d\ue9finir des mesures de gestion des cas positifs, de sensibiliser les populations sur les risques probables et de rendre disponibles des kits de tests rapides permettant d\u2019identifier \ue0 temps les animaux atteints

Molecular epidemiology of Theileria parva in Eastern Zone of Tanzania.

Theileria parva is a haemoprotozoan parasite that causes fatal lymphoproliferative disease of cattle, East Coast fever (ECF), transmitted by Rhipicephalus appendiculatus tick. There are many stocks of T. parva differing in various features. Immunity elicited by immunization is stock specific and therefore, it is appropriate to characterize T. parva to find most relevant stocks for inclusion in the vaccine. This study determined molecular epidemiology of T. parva parasite in Eastern Zone of Tanzania by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and semi-nested PCR to amplify antigenic genes coding for sporozoite surface protein (p67) and piroplasm proteins (p104) respectively using DNA extracted from cattle blood samples naturally infected with T. parva. Restriction fragments length polymorphism (RFLP) profiles of p104 were generated by Arthrobacter luteus I (Alu I) restriction enzyme. Results demonstrated two types of p67 bands, 750 bp and 950 bp. Profiles for p104 PCR-RFLP revealed 5 types of stocks; the first and the second stocks produced PCR-RFLP profiles identical to T. parva Katete and T. parva Muguga. The p104 PCR-RFLP profiles of the rest three stocks were distinct novel variant stocks never reported in previous studies. The significance of the different p67 alleles and the novel variants stocks detected by p104 PCR-RFLP in the epidemiology of theileriosis in Eastern Zone of Tanzania and the key aspects for vaccine developement is discussed

Nontuberculous mycobacteria infections in Katavi Rukwa ecosystems

Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology B 2014, Vol. 4 215-223A study on nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) was carried out in wildlife-livestock interface of Katavi Rukwa ecosystem (KRE). 328 livestock tissues and 178 wild animals were cultured, wild animals were sampled opportunistically during professional hunting and game cropping operations in the KRE protected areas. The objective of the study was to generate data on epidemiology of NTM in the wildlife-livestock interface of the KRE. Methods used to identify the NTM were: culture and isolation, polymerase chain reaction, protein heat shock 65 kilodalton (hsp65) and sequencing. Mycobacteria were detected on 25.9% and 11.9% of livestock and wildlife tissue cultures, respectively. The most NTM isolated were M. kansasii (30%), M. gastri (30%), M. fortuitum (1%), M. intracellulare (4%), M. indicus pranii (4%), M. nonchromogenicum (6%) and M. lentiflavum (6%). Other NTM in smaller percentages were M. hibernae, M. engbaekii, M. septicum, M. arupense and M. godii. Due to rise of NTM infection in both human and animals, it is recommended that awareness and laboratory facilities be improved to curb the underreporting especially in TB-endemic countries. For species specific identification, a network of national and regional laboratories is promoted

Prevention, detection, and response to anthrax outbreak in Northern Tanzania using one health approach: A case study of Selela ward in Monduli district

nternational Journal of One Health, 2017;3:66-76.Background: Anthrax is an infectious fatal zoonotic disease caused by Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax outbreak was confirmed in samples of wild animals following rumors of the outbreak in wild animals, livestock, and humans in Selela ward, Monduli district of Northern Tanzania. Therefore, a multi-sectorial team was deployed for outbreak response in the affected areas. Objectives: The aim of the response was to manage the outbreak in a One Health approach and specifically: (i) To determine the magnitude of anthrax outbreak in humans, livestock, and wild animals in Selela ward, (ii) to assess the outbreak local response capacity, (iii) to establish mechanisms for safe disposal of animal carcasses in the affected areas, and (iv) to mount effective control and preventive strategies using One Health approach in the affected areas. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional field survey using: (i) Active searching of suspected human cases at health facilities and community level, (ii) physical counting and disposal of wild animal carcasses in the affected area, (iii) collection of specimens from suspected human cases and animal carcasses for laboratory analysis, and (iv) meetings with local animal and human health staff, political, and traditional leaders at local levels. We analyzed data by STATA software, and a map was created using Quantum GIS software. Results: A total of 21 humans were suspected, and most of them (62%) being from Selela ward. The outbreak caused deaths of 10 cattle, 26 goats, and three sheep, and 131 wild animal carcasses were discarded the majority of them being wildebeest (83%). Based on laboratory results, three blood smears tested positive for anthrax using Giemsa staining while two wildebeest samples tested positive and five human blood samples tested negative for anthrax using quantitative polymerase chain reaction techniques. Clinical forms of anthrax were also observed in humans and livestock which suggest that wild animals may contribute as reservoir of anthrax which can easily be transmitted to humans and livestock. Conclusion: The rapid outbreak response by multi-sectoral teams using a One Health approach managed to contain the outbreak. The teams were composed of animal and human health experts from national to village levels to control the outbreak. The study testifies the importance of multi-sectoral approach using One Health approach in outbreak preparedness and response.USAID through the Preparedness and Response (P &R) project (Grant No: AID – OAA - A – 14 – 00098, and Project No: Emerging Pandemic Threats – 2 phase [EPT -2

Prevention, detection, and response to anthrax outbreak in Northern Tanzania using one health approach: A case study of Selela ward in Monduli district

Background: Anthrax is an infectious fatal zoonotic disease caused by Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax outbreak was confirmed in samples of wild animals following rumors of the outbreak in wild animals, livestock, and humans in Selela ward, Monduli district of Northern Tanzania. Therefore, a multi-sectorial team was deployed for outbreak response in the affected areas. Objectives: The aim of the response was to manage the outbreak in a One Health approach and specifically: (i) To determine the magnitude of anthrax outbreak in humans, livestock, and wild animals in Selela ward, (ii) to assess the outbreak local response capacity, (iii) to establish mechanisms for safe disposal of animal carcasses in the affected areas, and (iv) to mount effective control and preventive strategies using One Health approach in the affected areas. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional field survey using: (i) Active searching of suspected human cases at health facilities and community level, (ii) physical counting and disposal of wild animal carcasses in the affected area, (iii) collection of specimens from suspected human cases and animal carcasses for laboratory analysis, and (iv) meetings with local animal and human health staff, political, and traditional leaders at local levels. We analyzed data by STATA software, and a map was created using Quantum GIS software. Results: A total of 21 humans were suspected, and most of them (62%) being from Selela ward. The outbreak caused deaths of 10 cattle, 26 goats, and three sheep, and 131 wild animal carcasses were discarded the majority of them being wildebeest (83%). Based on laboratory results, three blood smears tested positive for anthrax using Giemsa staining while two wildebeest samples tested positive and five human blood samples tested negative for anthrax using quantitative polymerase chain reaction techniques. Clinical forms of anthrax were also observed in humans and livestock which suggest that wild animals may contribute as reservoir of anthrax which can easily be transmitted to humans and livestock. Conclusion: The rapid outbreak response by multi-sectoral teams using a One Health approach managed to contain the outbreak. The teams were composed of animal and human health experts from national to village levels to control the outbreak. The study testifies the importance of multi-sectoral approach using One Health approach in outbreak preparedness and response

Nontuberculous mycobacteria infections in Katavi Rukwa ecosystems

Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology B 2014, Vol. 4 215-223A study on nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) was carried out in wildlife-livestock interface of Katavi Rukwa ecosystem (KRE). 328 livestock tissues and 178 wild animals were cultured, wild animals were sampled opportunistically during professional hunting and game cropping operations in the KRE protected areas. The objective of the study was to generate data on epidemiology of NTM in the wildlife-livestock interface of the KRE. Methods used to identify the NTM were: culture and isolation, polymerase chain reaction, protein heat shock 65 kilodalton (hsp65) and sequencing. Mycobacteria were detected on 25.9% and 11.9% of livestock and wildlife tissue cultures, respectively. The most NTM isolated were M. kansasii (30%), M. gastri (30%), M. fortuitum (1%), M. intracellulare (4%), M. indicus pranii (4%), M. nonchromogenicum (6%) and M. lentiflavum (6%). Other NTM in smaller percentages were M. hibernae, M. engbaekii, M. septicum, M. arupense and M. godii. Due to rise of NTM infection in both human and animals, it is recommended that awareness and laboratory facilities be improved to curb the underreporting especially in TB-endemic countries. For species specific identification, a network of national and regional laboratories is promoted