Molecular prevalence and risk factors associated with tick-borne pathogens in cattle in western Kenya
Abstract Background Tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) are of global importance, especially in sub-Saharan Africa where they represent a major constraint to livestock production. Their association with human disease is also increasingly recognized, signalling their zoonotic importance. It is therefore cruc...
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Published in | BMC veterinary research Vol. 17; no. 1; pp. 1 - 363 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
London
BioMed Central Ltd
27.11.2021
BioMed Central BMC |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Abstract
Background
Tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) are of global importance, especially in sub-Saharan Africa where they represent a major constraint to livestock production. Their association with human disease is also increasingly recognized, signalling their zoonotic importance. It is therefore crucial to investigate TBPs prevalence in livestock populations and the factors associated with their presence. We set out to identify TBPs present in cattle and to determine associated risk factors in western Kenya, where smallholder livestock production is important for subsistence and market-driven income.
Results
Tick-borne pathogen infections in blood samples collected from cattle at livestock markets and slaughterhouses between May 2017 and January 2019 were identified by high-resolution melting analysis and sequencing of PCR products of genus-specific primers. Of the 422 cattle sampled, 30.1% (127/422) were infected with at least one TBP, while 8.8% (37/422) had dual infections.
Anaplasma
spp. (19.7%) were the most prevalent, followed by
Theileria
(12.3%),
Ehrlichia
(6.6%), and
Babesia
(0.2%) spp. Sequence analysis of the TBPs revealed them to be
Anaplasma platys
-like organisms (13.5%),
Theileria velifera
(7.4%),
Anaplasma marginale
(4.9%),
Theileria mutans
(3.1%),
Theileria parva
(1.6%), and
Babesia bigemina
(0.2%).
Ehrlichia ruminantium
,
Rickettsia
spp., and arboviruses were not detected. Exotic breeds of cattle were more likely to be infected with
A. marginale
compared to local breeds (OR: 7.99, 95% CI: 3.04–22.02,
p
< 0.001). Presence of ticks was a significant predictor for
Anaplasma
spp. (OR: 2.18, 95% CI: 1.32–3.69,
p
= 0.003) and
Ehrlichia
spp. (OR: 2.79, 95% CI: 1.22–7.23,
p
= 0.022) infection. Cattle sampled at slaughterhouses were more likely to be positive for
Anaplasma
spp. (OR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.01–2.70,
p
= 0.048) and
A. marginale
(OR: 3.84, 95% CI: 1.43–12.21,
p
= 0.012), compared to those sampled at livestock markets.
Conclusion
This study reports TBP prevalence and associated risk factors in western Kenya, factors which are key to informing surveillance and control measures. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 1746-6148 1746-6148 |
DOI: | 10.1186/s12917-021-03074-7 |