Effect of tanniniferous browse meal on nematode faecal egg counts and internal parasite burdens in sheep and goats

The effect of tanniniferous browse meal on faecal egg counts (FEC) and intestinal worm burdens was investigated in sheep and goats infested experimentally with gastrointestinal nematodes. Initially, leaves of different browse tree species were assayed for condensed tannin (CT) content using a colorimetric method to determine concentration and seasonal variations. The level of CT in the leaves ranged between 58 – 283 g/kg dry matter. Seasonal changes in CT levels were influenced by stage of leaf maturity with peak levels after the wet season in June. Leaves of Acacia polyacantha had the highest tannin concentration and were used to test their anthelmintic effect in goats and sheep infested with the nematodes in two separate feeding trials. In Trial 1 an acacia leaf meal supplement (AMS) was offered at 100 – 130 g/animal/day for 20 days to growing Small East African goats to investigate its effect on FEC and worm burden. Mean FEC and worm burden of the AMS-fed group were respectively 27% and 13% lower than in the control group. Trial 2 was similar to Trial 1 except that AMS was offered for 30 days to growing Black Head Persian sheep at 170 g/animal/day. The sheep receiving AMS showed a slight reduction in FEC (on average 19% lower than the control group) but had no effect on worm burden. The current results substantiated previous reports of a suppressing effect of CT on gastrointestinal nematodes of small ruminants. Although the observed anthelmintic activity of AMS was less than expected, such reductions can have practical epidemiological implications in reducing pasture larval contamination. Further studies are needed under field conditions to evaluate the feasibility of using locally available tanniniferous browse as an alternative to synthetic anthelmintics in reducing worm infestations in small ruminants. South African Journal of Animal Science Vol. 37 (2) 2007: pp. 97-10

Trematode infections in cattle in Arumeru District, Tanzania are associated with irrigation

Background The relationship between the environment and infection of cattle with trematodes was studied at Arumeru District, Arusha Region, northern Tanzania. Randomly selected villages were grouped into three cattle management strata, (i) zero-grazing (ZZ) (ii) communal grazing without irrigation (ZC) and (iii) communal grazing with irrigation (ZCI). Methods Faecal samples were collected from 241 cattle, and processed using the Flukefinder® method. Snail intermediate hosts were collected with a snail scoop from the water bodies in the study villages and identified morphologically. Results The overall prevalence of F. gigantica, paramphistomes and S. bovis were 33%, 37% and 2% respectively. Prevalence for F. gigantica, paramphistomes, and S. bovis for each stratum were, zero-grazing (ZZ) (29.7%, 36.0% and 0%), communal grazing without irrigation (ZC) (6.3%, 15.0% and 3.8%) and communal grazing with irrigation (ZCI) (57.7%, 56.7% and 1.0%) respectively. The differences between strata were significant for F. gigantica (p < 0.001) and paramphistomes (p < 0.05) but not for S. bovis. Irrigation could account for the high prevalence of F. gigantica and paramphistomes in the ZCI stratum as compared to the ZZ and ZC strata. The higher prevalences of F. gigantica and paramphistomes in the ZZ stratum compared with the ZC stratum were unexpected and attributed to the practice of farmers in some ZZ stratum villages buying fodder for their cattle obtained from pastures in ZCI villages. Conclusion Trematode infections in cattle are prevalent in Arumeru District. Fasciola gigantica and paramphistomes are associated with grazing in areas with irrigation of crops. Zero-grazing of cattle does not necessarily prevent the risk of infection

Associations between trematode infections in cattle and freshwater snails in highland and lowland areas of Iringa Rural District, Tanzania

SUMMARYThe epidemiology of trematode infections in cattle was investigated within highland and lowland areas of Iringa Rural District, in southern Tanzania. Fecal samples were collected from 450 cattle in 15 villages at altitudes ranging from 696 to 1800 m above the sea level. Freshwater snails were collected from selected water bodies and screened for emergence of cercariae. The infection rates in cattle wereFasciola gigantica28·2%, paramphistomes 62·8% andSchistosoma bovis4·8%. Notably, prevalence of trematode infections in cattle was much higher in highland (altitude &gt; 1500 m) as compared with lowland (altitude &lt; 1500 m) areas and was statistically significant (P-value = 0·000) forF. giganticaand paramphistomes but not forS. bovis. The snails collected includedLymnaea natalensis, Bulinus africanus, Bulinus tropicus, Bulinus forskali, Biomphalaria pfeifferi, Melanoides tuberculataandBellamya constrictawith a greater proportion of highland (75%) than lowland (36%) water bodies harbouring snails. Altitude is a major factor shaping the epidemiology ofF. giganticaand paramphistomes infections in cattle in Iringa Rural District with greater emphasis upon control needed in highland areas.</jats:p

Spatial Clustering of Porcine Cysticercosis in Mbulu District, Northern Tanzania

Taenia solium is a tapeworm that causes two different disease conditions. In its adult stage, it inhabits the small intestine of human, a condition known as taeniosis, which is characterised by mild symptoms including abdominal disconfort. In the larval stage, T. solium can infect humans and various animal species, mainly pigs, causing cysticercosis. Taeniosis is acquired through consumption of inadequately cooked infected meat, while cysticercosis is acquired through ingestion of tapeworm eggs in foodstuffs contaminated with faeces from a human tapeworm carrier. Cysticercosis of human central nervous tissues (neurocysticercosis) causes serious syndromes such as epilepsy. Transmission of T. solium is facilitated by several factors such as presence of tapeworm carriers, poor sanitation and poor pig husbandry, which allow pigs to access human faeces. Nevertheless, the role of these factors in parasite transmission may vary with different cultural settings. Following an incidence and a prevalence studies in a rural area of northern Tanzania, there was a significant spatial clustering of porcine cysticerocis, suggesting focal distribution of transmission risk factors, which could be targeted for interventions. The study also revealed that despite the low sensitivity of the lingual examination method to detect porcine cysticercosis, it could highlight the potential ‘hotspots’ of the infection

Evaluating the effectiveness of trematocides against <i>Fasciola gigantica </i>and amphistomes infections in cattle, using faecal egg count reduction tests in Iringa Rural and Arumeru Districts, Tanzania

Fasciolosis, caused by the liver fluke Fasciola gigantica, and paramphistomosis are widespread in cattle in Tanzania, and the use of trematocides is encouraged by the Government livestock extension officers. However, reduced efficacy of oxyclozanide against Fasciola gigantica and amphistomes (rumen flukes), and albendazole against F. gigantica, has been reported in some regions. This study was conducted to assess the efficacy of different trematocides against F. gigantica and amphistome infections in cattle at Iringa Rural and Arumeru Districts. Cattle found with concurrent infection of F. gigantica and amphistomes were randomly grouped into six experimental groups. One control group was left untreated while five treatment groups were treated with one of five trematocides that include: albendazole, nitroxynil, oxyclozanide, closantel and triclabendazole. Post-treatment faecal sample collection was done on the day of treatment and again at 7, 14 and 28 days, from each cattle. The samples were processed by Flukefinder® method to recover and identify eggs. Assessment of the efficacy of the trematocides against F. gigantica and amphistomes was conducted using faecal egg count reduction (FECR) tests. The findings of the present study in both districts indicate that nitroxynil, oxyclozanide, closantel and triclabendazole are effective against patent F. gigantica infection, as the calculated FECR% for each trematocide was 100% by day 14 post-treatment. However, albendazole found to have reduced efficacy of against F. gigantica, as FECR% was 49% in Arumeru District and 89% in Iringa Rural District by day 14 post-treatment. Oxyclozanide was the only trematocide found to be effective against amphistomes with FECR of 99%. Albendazole had reduced efficacy against F. gigantica in cattle in Arumeru and Iringa Rural Districts, Tanzania. The reduced efficacy was prominent in Arumeru, where cattle are commonly treated with anthelmintics, than in Iringa Rural, where cattle are seldom treated

Taenia solium cysticercosis in Eastern and Southern Africa: an emerging problem in agriculture and public health

Pig production has increased tremendously in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA), particularly in smallholder rural communities. The increase in pig production has mainly been due to land scarcity, increase in pork consumption in many areas including urban centers, and the recognition by many communities of the fast and greater return of the pig industry, compared with other domesticated livestock industries. Concurrent with the increase in smallholder pig keeping and pork consumption, there have been increasing reports of Taenia solium cysticercosis in pigs and humans in the ESA region, although the problems are under-recognized by all levels in many ESA countries. Having recognizing this, scientists researching T. solium in ESA formed a regional cysticercosis working group (CWGESA) to increase awareness of the problem and enable effective and sustainable control of T. solium. This article summarizes the status of T. solium infections in humans and pigs in the ESA countries and highlights the formation and progress of the CWGESA

Prevalence and risk factors for brucellosis transmission in goats in Morogoro, Tanzania

Masters ThesisBrucellosis is a zoonotic disease that causes a great socio-economic as well as a public health concern worldwide. Limited studies have been conducted to determine the prevalence of brucellosis in small ruminants kept in the pastoral and agro-pastoral grazing systems of Tanzania. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Brucella infections and risk factors for its transmission to human in Morogoro region, Tanzania. A cross sectional study was conducted in nine wards of three Districts of Morogoro Region. Blood samples from 478 goats were collected and screened for brucellosis by serological tests. Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) was used to detect the Brucella DNA. Structured questionnaire was administered to assess the awareness of brucellosis, occurrence of the disease in goats and managerial practices associated with Brucellosis transmission in the community. Out of 478 goat sera, one (0.2%) serum had positive reaction to both RBT and iELISA tests. Eighteen (66.7%) of the 27randomly selected samples were positive for Brucella spp on qPCR, and Brucella abortus was the only species detected in all infected goat sera. One (2.2 %) of the respondents was aware about human brucellosis while seven (15.2%) were aware of livestock brucellosis. Twenty six percent admitted to consume raw milk, 11 % consumed raw blood while 80.4% reported to have observed abortion cases in goats in their herds, 28.3 % observed cases of retained fetal membranes, and 42 % had no proper means of disposing animal fetal membranes. This study has indicated the presence of B. abortus infection in goats in Morogoro region. Transmission of the infection is likely to occur due to low community awareness about transmission, prevention and control of the disease. Therefore, there is a need for formulating and implementing disease control measures such as raising public awareness in prevention of brucellosis in the study area.One Health Central and Eastern Africa (OHCEA

Prevalence and risk factors for brucellosis transmission in goats in Morogoro, Tanzania

Masters ThesisBrucellosis is a zoonotic disease that causes a great socio-economic as well as a public health concern worldwide. Limited studies have been conducted to determine the prevalence of brucellosis in small ruminants kept in the pastoral and agro-pastoral grazing systems of Tanzania. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Brucella infections and risk factors for its transmission to human in Morogoro region, Tanzania. A cross sectional study was conducted in nine wards of three Districts of Morogoro Region. Blood samples from 478 goats were collected and screened for brucellosis by serological tests. Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) was used to detect the Brucella DNA. Structured questionnaire was administered to assess the awareness of brucellosis, occurrence of the disease in goats and managerial practices associated with Brucellosis transmission in the community. Out of 478 goat sera, one (0.2%) serum had positive reaction to both RBT and iELISA tests. Eighteen (66.7%) of the 27randomly selected samples were positive for Brucella spp on qPCR, and Brucella abortus was the only species detected in all infected goat sera. One (2.2 %) of the respondents was aware about human brucellosis while seven (15.2%) were aware of livestock brucellosis. Twenty six percent admitted to consume raw milk, 11 % consumed raw blood while 80.4% reported to have observed abortion cases in goats in their herds, 28.3 % observed cases of retained fetal membranes, and 42 % had no proper means of disposing animal fetal membranes. This study has indicated the presence of B. abortus infection in goats in Morogoro region. Transmission of the infection is likely to occur due to low community awareness about transmission, prevention and control of the disease. Therefore, there is a need for formulating and implementing disease control measures such as raising public awareness in prevention of brucellosis in the study area.One Health Central and Eastern Africa (OHCEA

Assessment of causes of organ condemnations, financial losses and foetal wastage in cattle slaughtered at Bukoba Municipal abattoir, Kagera, Tanzania

Tanzania veterinary journal, 2014; 29 (2): 43-52Retrospective and prospective studies were carried out at Bukoba Municipal abattoir, Tanzania to identify causes of cattle organs condemnation and assess financial implications and magnitude of slaughter of pregnant cows and heifers. A retrospective study used data from 2011 to 2013 found that a total of 13,970 cattle were slaughtered and inspected. The prevalence of liver fasciolosis was 28.5%, lung congestion 10.2%, emphysema 5.1%, kidney haemorrhages 7.7% and hydronephrosis 4.3%. During a prospective study carried out in January 2014, post-mortem inspection of 692 cattle was done. The prevalence of liver fasciolosis was 37.6%, flabby heart 11.3%, emphysema 11.0% and lung congestion (6.6%). Value of condemned organs in one month of January 2014 was estimated to be Tanzanian shillings (TZS) 7,351 000 equivalent to US$4,595. Estimated total of TZS 6,174 600 (US$ 3,860) resulted from liver condemnations and TZS 6,092 400 (US$ 3,808) from liver fasciolosis which is 82.9% of the total financial losses. Of all the 480 cows and heifers slaughtered, 75 (15.6%) were found to be pregnant. The high condemnation rates led to financial losses and some of the conditions are of zoonotic importance. The indiscriminate slaughter of pregnant animals is against animal welfare. Therefore, diseases surveillance and control measures need to be strengthened, and enforcement of legislation governing animal welfare to curb the slaughter of pregnant animals.SADC TADs project under the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development, Tanzani

Prevalence and financial losses associated with Bovine fasciolosis at SAAFI and Sumbawanga municipal abattoirs, Rukwa, Tanzania

Tanzania veterinary journal, 2013; 28 (2)This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and financial losses of Bovine fasciolosis at SAAFI and Sumbawanga municipal abattoirs. Primary data was collected for one month (November/December 2012) through meat inspection. Secondary data was retrieved from the abattoir records for the period of five years (January 2008 to December 2012). During the one month of prospective study period, a total of 677 cattle were slaughtered at SAAFI abattoir and 45.4% of the livers were condemned due to fasciolosis. At Sumbawanga municipal abattoir 594 cattle were slaughtered, 47.1% of the livers were also condemned due to fasciolosis. The overall prevalence of fasciolosis for five years at SAAFI abattoir was 26.5% (10 592 cattle slaughtered and 2 801 livers were condemned due to fasciolosis) while that of Sumbawanga municipal abattoir was 16.4% (23 612 cattle slaughtered and 3 862 livers were condemned due to fasciolosis). Fasciola gigantica was found to be the liver fluke species affecting cattle slaughtered in Rukwa region. The one month (November/December) financial loss due to liver condemnation (Fasciola infected) was Tanzania shilings (TZS) 5 894 400 (USD 3 497) and TZS 5 376 000 (USD 3 190) for SAAFI and Sumbawanga municipal abattoirs, respectively. The public health implication on the quantity of infected livers condemned and the losses incured by livestock and meat traders warrants for more extensive epidemiological investigations to determine the magnitude of the problem in live animals and institution of proper control strategies of fasciolosis in the study areaMinistry of Livestock and Fisheries Developmen