Serum biochemical parameters and cytokine profiles associated with natural African trypanosome infections in cattle.

BACKGROUND: Animal African trypanosomiasis (AAT) greatly affects livestock production in sub-Saharan Africa. In Ghana prevalence of AAT is estimated to range between 5 and 50%. Studies have reported serum biochemical aberrations and variability in cytokine profiles in animals during infection. However, information regarding the biochemical parameters and cytokine profiles associated with natural infections are limited. This study was therefore aimed at investigating changes in the levels of serum biochemical parameters and inflammatory cytokines during a natural infection. METHODS: Nested internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-based PCR and sequencing were used to characterise trypanosome infection in cattle at two areas in Ghana (Adidome and Accra) of different endemicities. The cattle were sampled at four to five-week intervals over a period of six months. Levels of serum biochemical parameters, including creatinine, cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin and total protein and cytokines (interleukin 10, interleukin 4, interleukin 12, interferon gamma and tumor necrosis factor alpha) were measured in serum samples and then compared between infected cattle and uninfected controls. RESULTS: The predominant trypanosome species detected in Accra (non-endemic) and Adidome (endemic) were Trypanosoma theileri and Trypanosoma vivax, respectively. Serum biochemical parameters were similar between infected and uninfected cattle in Accra. Infected cattle at Adidome however, had significantly higher levels of ALP, creatinine, total protein and total bilirubin (P < 0.05) and significantly lower levels of cholesterol (P < 0.05) at specific time points. At basal levels and during infection, significantly higher pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory (Th1/Th2) cytokine ratios were observed in cattle at Adidome compared to Accra (P < 0.05), indicating a shift towards Th1 immune response in Adidome. Levels of IL-10 were, however, significantly elevated in infected cattle in Accra (P < 0.05), suggesting high anti-inflammatory cytokine response in Accra. CONCLUSION: These results suggests that cattle in an endemic area repeatedly infected with trypanosomes of different species or different antigenic types demonstrate high pro-inflammatory (Th1) immune response and biochemical alterations whereas cattle in a non-endemic area with predominantly chronic T. theileri infections demonstrate high anti-inflammatory response and no biochemical alterations

Brucella Abortus Antibodies in Raw Cow Milk Collected from Kraals within the Coastal Savannah Zone of Ghana

ABSTRACT There has been a recent upsurge in the marketing of fresh un-pasteurized milk and yoghurt in some urban areas in Ghana. This has raised concerns about human health risks associated with the consumption of unpasteurized milk especially with respect to B. abortus as bovine brucellosis is common in Ghana. The Milk Ring Test (MRT) and the indirect milk ELISA were used for Brucella abortus antibody detection in raw milk samples collected from 224 kraals involved in the production and marketing of fresh cow milk within the coastal savannah zone of Ghana. Brucella IgG and IgM lateral flow assay (LFA) was used for the detection of antibodies to B. abortus in whole blood from 75 herdsmen and family members. The MRT detected B. abortus antibodies in 21.9% of the milk samples while the ELISA detected specific antibodies in 58.9% of the samples. Two individuals (2.7%) tested positive with the LFA; one for specific IgG antibodies and the other with specific IgG and IgM antibodies. These results indicate that although B. abortus antibodies are present in raw cow milk produced and marketed within the coastal savannah zone of Ghana, human brucellosis infection among herdsmen and their family members is low

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) of Herdsmen in Ghana with respect to Milk-Borne Zoonotic Diseases and the Safe Handling of Milk

ABSTRACT The study was carried out to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of herdsmen (N=224) within the coastal savannah zone of Ghana on brucellosis, tuberculosis (TB) and safe handling of fresh cow milk. Respondents were herdsmen with between one to over 40 years experience in the business and 83% of them had never received any formal training in milk handling. Most respondents were aware of TB (88%) and brucellosis (76%) but only 2.7% and 1.8% knew the correct cause of TB and brucellosis respectively. Most respondents did not know how humans could contract TB (66%) and brucellosis (87%) from cattle and 31% did not know that boiling of milk can prevent milk-borne diseases. Respondents with formal training in milk handling were more likely to give correct responses (P &lt; 0.05). However, only experience in the milk business was significantly responsible for respondent&apos;s knowledge of TB in cattle and man and for each extra year of experience with milking of cattle there is a 4.5% (95% CI, 1.2-7.9) increase in the odds of a participant knowing about TB. For brucellosis the increment is 4.1% (95% CI, 1.2-7.9) per year experience. There is an urgent need for intensive health education for herdsmen on safe handling of milk and the transmission of zoonotic diseases to man through the consumption of raw milk

A longitudinal two-year survey of the prevalence of trypanosomes in domestic cattle in Ghana by massively parallel sequencing of barcoded amplicons.

Funder: Cambridge-Africa Alborada Research FundBACKGROUND: Animal African Trypanosomiasis (AAT) is one of the most economically important diseases affecting livestock productivity in sub-Saharan Africa. The disease is caused by a broad range of Trypanosoma spp., infecting both wild and domesticated animals through cyclical and mechanical transmission. This study aimed to characterize trypanosomes present in cattle at regular intervals over two years in an AAT endemic and a non-endemic region of Ghana. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Groups of cattle at Accra and Adidome were selected based on their geographical location, tsetse fly density, prevalence of trypanosomiasis and the breed of cattle available. Blood for DNA extraction was collected at approximately four to five-week intervals over a two-year period. Trypanosome DNA were detected by a sensitive nested PCR targeting the tubulin gene array and massively parallel sequencing of barcoded amplicons. Analysis of the data was a semi-quantitative estimation of infection levels using read counts obtained from the sequencing as a proxy for infection levels. Majority of the cattle were infected with multiple species most of the time [190/259 (73%) at Adidome and 191/324 (59%) at Accra], with T. vivax being the most abundant. The level of infection and in particular T. vivax, was higher in Adidome, the location with a high density of tsetse flies. The infection level varied over the time course, the timings of this variation were not consistent and in Adidome it appeared to be independent of prophylactic treatment for trypanosome infection. Effect of gender or breed on infection levels was insignificant. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Most cattle were infected with low levels of several trypanosome species at both study sites, with T. vivax being the most abundant. The measurements of infection over time provided insight to the importance of the approach in identifying cattle that could suppress trypanosome infection over an extended time and may serve as reservoir