Search

A study was carried out to evaluate the socio-economic impact of African swine fever (ASF) and associated epidemiological factors following the 2011 outbreak in Isoka district of Zambia. One hundred and twenty small holder farmers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire to collect information on the socio-economic impact of the outbreak. Blood samples were also collected from 190 pigs from 65 households in the areas previously affected by the ASF outbreak. Sera were harvested and subjected to antibody blocking Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent assay (b ELISA). Questionnaire survey revealed that the majority of farmers (51.0%) kept pigs for business. A large proportion of the remaining farmers (37.0%) kept pigs for home consumption. Eighty-four percent of the respondents were aware of ASF and 46.7% were directly affected by the 2011 outbreak which resulted into 50.0% reduction in pig population in the surveyed area. This ASF outbreak caused 99.9% mortality of affected pigs. The socio-economic impacts of the disease were in terms of loss of the pigs due to mortalities, loss of business and the cost of disease control. Serological analysis showed that no pig had circulating antibodies against ASF; suggesting that none of the exposed pigs during the outbreak survived. With our findings we can conclude that ASF is still an important transboundary animal disease (TAD) with enormous socio-economic impact that requires concerted efforts of all stakeholders in the enforcement of control and preventive measures.Key words: African swine fever, socio-economic impact, seroprevalence, Isoka, Zambia

A study was carried out in Kilosa and Gairo districts to identify and characterize animal health constraints as perceived by stakeholders in the beef and milk value chains. A combination of methods was used to collect data, namely, mapping of value chain actors and baseline survey. The baseline survey involved 220 households drawn from 33 villages and 22 wards. Using a structured questionnaire, households were visited to assess awareness and experience of livestock diseases based on observation of clinical cases prevalent in cattle herds. Prevalent diseases as reported by the respondents were East Coast fever (ECF; 88.1%), anaplasmosis (78.0%), heartwater (75.8%) and babesiosis (64.0%). Other animal health problems reported were contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP; 92.6%), calf diarrhoeas (79.9%), trypanosomosis (66.7%), brucellosis (65.3%) and mastitis (60.1%). Further inquiry revealed that health problems perceived to be the most important, in declining order, were: ECF, trypanosomosis, anaplasmosis, heartwater, calf diarrhoea, brucellosis and babesiosis. With regard to routine disease control activities, all respondents reported to apply acaricides to control ticks while 90% reported deworming their animals regularly. Although acaricide application was reported to be carried out, tick-borne diseases (TBDs) were still prevalent in the study area. These finding suggest that the current control measures against infectious diseases are ineffective. There is, therefore, a need to have in-depth evaluation of existing disease prevention and control options so that corrective measures can be applied to reverse the situation, which will ensure reduction of morbidities and mortalities associated with infectious diseases. This will contribute to improved livelihoods of pastoral and agro-pastoral farmers predominant in Kilosa and Gairo districts. Key words: disease control, tick-borne disease, pastoral, agro-pastoral, Kilosa and Gairo districts

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) caused by Mycobacterium bovis is an important zoonosis that affects uman, wildlife and livestock. A cross sectional study was carried out between December 2012 and January 2013 to establish the prevalence of bTB and the associated risk factors among ive and slaughter indigenous cattle in Gairo district of Morogoro region. Diagnosis of bTB was based on bovine gamma interferon blood based assay (BOVIGAM®) in live animals n=370) while that in slaughter cattle (n=50) was based on enhanced meat inspection. questionnaire survey was conducted among the livestock keepers (n=17) and abattoir workers (n=11) to asses awareness on risk factors associated with bTB. Out of 370 live cattle tested 11 (3.0%) were bTB positive and the reactors were from 38.1% of 21 herds tested. The prevalence of bTB based on enhanced meat inspection was 2.0%. Questionnaire survey among the livestock keepers and abattoir workers in Gairo district indicated limited knowledge on bTB risk factors such as uncontrolled animal movements, bTB control education, sharing communal grazing grounds, public health and contact of wild and domestic animals. The results of this study provide epidemiological status of bTB in Gairo district which is an important tool for its control. It is recommended that, control strategies for bTB in Gairo district be put in place.Key words: bTB, Bovigam®, Enhanced meat inspection, Indigenous cattle, Gairo district

A value chain analysis of beef sub-sector was carried out in Kilosa and Gairo Districts in order to address weak-links in the chain. Stakeholder mapping and analysis, baseline data collection and stakeholders’ workshop were conducted. Results indicate that the beef value chain has various actors among them: pastoralists and agro-pastoralists, service providers, small, medium and large livestock traders and live animal transporters. Others are market masters, slaughterhouse operators, meat transporters, meat shop operators and consumers. Mobile phone service was noted to effectively link various actors along the value chain. The producers in Kilosa and Gairo are feeding into within the district, region, Dar es Salaam; and the export market. There are relatively few female actors along the beef value chain, mostly in processing and retail offal business, input supply and one case in Dar es Salaam where three womenare operating a slaughter slab. Feeds and water availability particularly during the dry season; and animal diseases were reported as major production constraints impacting on quantity and quality of beef produced. Analysis of value chain governance revealed that retailing butcher shops are receiving relatively a larger share (30%) of the overall price compared to the rest of actors in the strand. Furthermore, findings show that the supply chain is characterized by low value addition among the pastoralist and high value addition among the feedlot operators and large scale processors. Weak links that require immediate attention include: animal diseases and non-use of standard weight measures during selling of live cattle.Key words: Actors, agro pastoralist, pastoralist, producers, supply chain, traders

A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess milk quality supplied to collection centres in Bagamoyo and Kisarawe districts in Pwani region between February and May 2012. A total of 186 milk samples were collected during starting of the rainy season (February to March, n=95) and towards the end of the rainy season (April to May, n=91). Total bacterial count (TBC) and Coliform counts (TCC) were established and used as indicators of microbial contamination of the milk. Presence of antibiotic residues was also determined qualitatively using the Delvotest kit. Questionnaires were administered to 93 suppliers of milk sold at the collection centres to identify management factors which may influence milk quality. Overall results indicated that ony10.2% and 14% of the tested milk samples would qualify as grade I milk based on TBC and TCC, respectively, both parameters being significantly different between districts and between start and end of the rainy season. Least Square Means indicated source of water used for sanitation to have significant effect on TBC and type of storage containers to have significant effect on TCC. Twenty one percent of the milk samples tested had antibiotic residues andthere was no significant difference between districts and seasons. It is concluded that milk supplied to the collection centres in Pwani region is of poor quality and could pose public health risks to consumers. Interventions to address these problems are required.Key words: Antibiotic residues, Total bacterial counts, Coliform counts, Public health significance

A cross-sectional study was conducted from July to September 2010 to establish the prevalence of mastitis in smallholder dairy cattle in Pemba Island. The study also assessed factors contributing towards the increased occurrence of bovine mastitis in those dairy farms. Simple structured questionnaire survey, California Mastitis Test (CMT) and bacteriological culture were carried out to determine the magnitude and risk factors of clinical mastitis (CM) and subclical mastitis (SCM) on 93 dairy households randomly selected from four districts of Pemba. A total of 643 milk samples from 163 lactating dairy cows were tested. The prevalence of clinical mastitis (CM) at farm level was 45.2% while at cow level was 31.3%.The prevalence of subclinical mastitis as defined by CMT was 66.7% at farm level, 55.8% at cow level and 34.4% at quarter level. The prevalence of intramammary infection based on bacterial isolation was 68.4%, 56.86% and 35.7% at farm, cow and quarter level respectively. Herd size, number of lactating cows, age of the cow, lactation stage and amount of milk produced per cow per day and number of parity were the risk factors identified to influence the prevalence of both clinical and subclinical mastitis. Mastitis pathogens isolated from 429 milk samples submitted for bacteriological culture include Staphylococcus epidermidis (71.5%), Staphylococcus aureus (7.2%), Streptococcus spp. (1.3%), Klebsiella spp. (5.2%) and Escherichia coli (6.5%). The findings revealed that the prevalence of both clinical and subclinical mastitis in smallholder dairy cattle in Pemba Island is high and appropriate control measures need to be devised.Keywords: crossbred dairy cow, risk factors, smallholder dairy farmers, udder infection.

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is an acute zoonotic viral disease of domestic ruminants in mainland Africa and Madagascar. The disease may exist in non-clinical form in apparently health animals. This study was designed to investigate the existence and spatial distribution of non-clinical form of RVF virus (RVFV) activity in wild and domestic animals in six districts in northern Tanzania. A retrospective cross-sectional study involved testing a total of 285 and 100 serum samples from domestic ruminants and wildlife species, respectively. The samples were subjected to IgG and IgM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as well as to the Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). Based on ELISA test, the seroprevalence of RVF-specific IgG antibodies was: African buffalo (40.9%,n=22), African elephant (33.3%, n=3), cattle (11.8%, n=93), sheep (11.3%, n=97) and goats (8.4%, n=95). Two serum samples from goats tested positive for IgM. All samples tested were RVFV-negative based on RT-PCR test. The highest intravillage sero-prevalence of IgG was observed in two villages (Kimotorok and Lormorije) of Simanjiro district. Domestic ruminants from herds that were located at an elevation below 1000m were at higher risk (OR=2.32, 95% CI 1.05 – 5.16, p=0.04) of RVFV infection. Findings of the current study indicate existence of a wide range of domestic and wildlife hosts which could serve as potential reservoirs of RVFV during inter-epidemic period. This calls for adoption of one health approach in responding to RVF epidemics as well as during implementation of RVF controlling measures with the ultimate goal of eradicating RVF in Tanzania.Key words: Rift Valley fever, inter–epidemic period, seropositivity, spatialdistribution, ruminants, Tanzania.