Prevalence of claw lesions in free range short horn cattle (zebu) in Kwimba district, Tanzania

Claw lesions are the problems which affect the hoofed animals and may or may not result into lameness. In cattle, this is a disease of economical importance as it affects the animal wellbeing as well as the economy of the farmer. The disease has been shown to affect animals kept in different production systems, although much information is available from the intensive dairy units and beef in feedlot systems. Limited studies have investigated the problems of claw lesions in cattle under pastoral and agro-pastoral systems in Tanzania. The present study was carried out to determine the prevalence and characteristics of claw lesions in the free range cattle in Nyambiti Village Kwimba district in Mwanza. The study was carried out during dry and rainy season between 2014 and 2015. A total of 19 households were selected for study whereby 367 cattle were examined. A total of 206 cattle were examined during dry season and 161 during rainy season. The overall prevalence of the claw lesions was 7.6%. During the dry season, 13 (6.3%) cattle had claw lesions while during rainy season 15 (9.3%) cattle had claw lesions. The observed lesions traumatic injury, claw abscess, hoof overgrowth, inward and outward curved claw, laminitis, hardened groove and swelling of the coronary area, foot rot, interdigital dermatitis, heel erosion and double sole. Most of the lesions were realized in cows which accounted for 71.4% of all lesions. Hind legs had most of the claw lesions (82.1%). It is concluded that claw lesion is a problem in free range short horn zebu hence the farmers should be given proper information and advices on the claw problems as to how it occurs and the associated effects as well as management on animals.Keywords: Claws, Lesions, Free range, Zebu, Kwimba distric

Cyanobacterial toxins and bacterial infections are the possible causes of mass mortality of lesser flamingos in Soda lakes in northern Tanzania

Research Opinions in Animal and Veterinary Sciences 2013, Vol. 3(x) xxxDuring the mass die-off of lesser flamingos in Soda lakes of Tanzania in 2000, 2002 and 2004, clinicopathological and toxicological investigations were made in order to elucidate the likely cause of mortality. Water and tissue samples were collected from the lakes and from dead flamingos respectively. While water samples were analyzed for pesticide residues, tissues were analyzed for pesticide residues and cyanotoxins. The significant pathological lesions observed in fresh carcasses included oedema in lungs, enlarged liver, haemorrhages in liver with multiple necrotic foci, haemorrhages in kidneys and haemorrhages in intestines with erosion of mucosa. Analysis of cyanotoxins revealed presence of neurotoxin (anatoxin-a) and hepatotoxins (microcystins LR, RR). Concentrations of microcystins LR were significantly higher (P = 0.0003) in liver than in other tissues. Based on clinicopathological findings and concentrations of the detected cyanotoxins, it is suspected that cyanobacterial toxins concurrent with secondary bacterial infection were the likely cause of the observed mortalities in flamingos

Cyanobacterial toxins and bacterial infections are the possible causes of mass mortality of lesser flamingos in Soda lakes in northern Tanzania

Research Opinions in Animal and Veterinary Sciences 2013, Vol. 3(x) xxxDuring the mass die-off of lesser flamingos in Soda lakes of Tanzania in 2000, 2002 and 2004, clinicopathological and toxicological investigations were made in order to elucidate the likely cause of mortality. Water and tissue samples were collected from the lakes and from dead flamingos respectively. While water samples were analyzed for pesticide residues, tissues were analyzed for pesticide residues and cyanotoxins. The significant pathological lesions observed in fresh carcasses included oedema in lungs, enlarged liver, haemorrhages in liver with multiple necrotic foci, haemorrhages in kidneys and haemorrhages in intestines with erosion of mucosa. Analysis of cyanotoxins revealed presence of neurotoxin (anatoxin-a) and hepatotoxins (microcystins LR, RR). Concentrations of microcystins LR were significantly higher (P = 0.0003) in liver than in other tissues. Based on clinicopathological findings and concentrations of the detected cyanotoxins, it is suspected that cyanobacterial toxins concurrent with secondary bacterial infection were the likely cause of the observed mortalities in flamingos