Journal Article

Prevalence of tick-transmitted pathogens in cattle reveals that Theileria parva, Babesia bigemina and Anaplasma marginale are endemic in Burundi

Nkundwanayo, Canesius, Machuka, Eunice, Bishop, Richard P., Bimenyimana, Alain V., Odongo, David O., Pelle, Roger, Njeri, Alice, Nyabongo, Lionel, Kanduma, Esther G.

2021

Overview

Background Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) constitute a major constraint for livestock development in sub-Saharan Africa, with East Coast fever (ECF) being the most devastating TBD of cattle. However, in Burundi, detailed information is lacking on the current prevalence of TBDs and on the associated economic losses from mortality and morbidity in cattle as well as the costs associated with TBD control and treatment. The aim of this study was, therefore, to assess the prevalence and spatial distribution of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in cattle across the major agro-ecological zones (AEZs) in Burundi. Methods In a cross-sectional study conducted in ten communes spanning the five main AEZs in Burundi, blood samples were taken from 828 cattle from 305 farms between October and December 2017. Evidence of Theileria parva infection was assessed by antibody level, measured using a polymorphic immunodominant molecule (PIM) antigen-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and by a T. parva- specific p104 gene-based nested PCR. Antibodies against Theileria mutans infection were detected using the 32-kDa antigen-based indirect ELISA, while the 200-kDa antigen and the major surface protein 5 (MSP5)-based indirect ELISA were used to detect antibodies against Babesia bigemina and Anaplasma marginale , respectively. Results The prevalence of T. parva across the ten communes sampled ranged from 77.5 to 93.1% and from 67.8 to 90.0% based on the ELISA and PCR analysis, respectively. A statistically significant difference in infection was observed between calves and adult cattle; however, T. parva infection levels were not significantly associated with sex and breed. The seroprevalence indicating exposure to T. mutans , B. bigemina and A. marginale ranged from 30 to 92.1%, 33.7 to 90% and 50 to 96.2%, respectively. Mixed infections of TBPs were detected in 82.91% of cattle sampled, with 11 different combinations of pathogen species detected . Conclusions The findings indicate that T. parva , A. marginale and B. bigemina infections are endemic in Burundi. Knowledge of the spatial distribution of TBPs will facilitate the design of effective targeted strategies to control these diseases. There is a need for further investigations of the distribution of tick vectors and the population structure of TBPs in order to identify the key epidemiological factors contributing to TBD outbreaks in Burundi.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: adults / Agricultural economics / Agriculture / Agro-ecological zone / agroecology / Altitude / Anaplasma / Anaplasma marginale / Anaplasma marginale - immunology / Anaplasmosis - epidemiology / Anaplasmosis - transmission / Animal Distribution / Animals / Antibodies / Antibodies, Protozoan - blood / Antigens / Arachnids / Babesia - immunology / Babesia bigemina / Babesiosis - epidemiology / Babesiosis - transmission / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Biomedicine / blood / Burundi / Burundi - epidemiology / Calves / Cattle / Cattle Diseases - epidemiology / Cattle Diseases - parasitology / Cattle Diseases - transmission / Causes of / Cross-Sectional Studies / Diseases / Distribution / DNA / East Coast fever / Economic impact / Economics / ELISA / Endemic Diseases / Endemic species / Entomology / Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay / Epidemics / Epidemiology / Farmers / Farms / Female / Immunization / Infections / Infectious Diseases / Livestock / Male / Mapping / Morbidity / mortality / Nucleotide sequence / Parasites / Parasitic diseases / Parasitology / Pathogenic microorganisms / Pathogens / PCR / polymerase chain reaction / Population / Population structure / Prevalence / Questionnaires / Seasons / Seroepidemiologic Studies / Serology / seroprevalence / Spatial distribution / Statistical analysis / Statistical methods / surface proteins / Theileria / Theileria mutans / Theileria parva / Theileria parva - immunology / Theileriasis - epidemiology / Theileriasis - immunology / Theileriasis - transmission / theileriosis / Tick-borne diseases / Tick-Borne Diseases - epidemiology / Tick-Borne Diseases - transmission / Tick-borne infections / ticks / Ticks - parasitology / Ticks and tick-borne diseases / Tropical Medicine / Vectors / Veterinary Medicine/Veterinary Science / Virology