A longitudinal assessment of the serological response toTheileria parvaand other tick-borne parasites from birth to one year in a cohort of indigenous calves in western Kenya

Abstract

SUMMARYTick-borne diseases are a major impediment to improved productivity of livestock in sub-Saharan Africa. Improved control of these diseases would be assisted by detailed epidemiological data. Here we used longitudinal, serological data to determine the patterns of exposure to Theileria parva, Theileria mutans, Babesia bigemina and Anaplasma marginale from 548 indigenous calves in western Kenya. The percentage of calves seropositive for the first three parasites declined from initial high levels due to maternal antibody until week 16, after which the percentage increased until the end of the study. In contrast, the percentage of calves seropositive for T. mutans increased from week 6 and reached a maximal level at week 16. Overall 423 (77%) calves seroconverted to T. parva, 451 (82%) to T. mutans, 195 (36%) to B. bigemina and 275 (50%) to A. marginale. Theileria parva antibody levels were sustained following infection, in contrast to those of the other three haemoparasites. Three times as many calves seroconverted to T. mutans before seroconverting to T. parva. No T. parva antibody response was detected in 25 calves that died of T. parva infection, suggesting that most deaths due to T. parva are the result of acute disease from primary exposure.

Exposure of vaccinated and naive cattle to natural challenge from buffalo-derived Theileria parva

“…The general lack of seroconversion in the control calves that died is consistent with the results of a recently published field study in a buffalo-free area ( Kiara et al., 2014 ) as well as a study assessing cattle exposed to T. parva from buffalo ( Mbizeni et al., 2013 ). This is presumably due to the animals dying before an antibody response has been generated, combined with generalized dysfunction of the immune system as a consequence of pathology caused by the infection.…”

The epidemiology of tick-borne haemoparasites as determined by the reverse line blot hybridization assay in an intensively studied cohort of calves in western Kenya

“…In a previous study by the group ( Kiara et al, 2014 ), the antibody responses to four of the tick-borne parasites present in the study region ( T. parva , T. mutans , A. marginale and B. bigemina ) were measured by ELISA for each calf at each 5-week time point and analyzed to determine the number of calves that seroconverted to these parasites during the study period. The results revealed that 77% of the calves seroconverted to T. parva , 82% to T. mutans , 50% to A. marginale , and 36% to B. bigemina ( Kiara et al, 2014 ).…”

“…In a previous study by the group ( Kiara et al, 2014 ), the antibody responses to four of the tick-borne parasites present in the study region ( T. parva , T. mutans , A. marginale and B. bigemina ) were measured by ELISA for each calf at each 5-week time point and analyzed to determine the number of calves that seroconverted to these parasites during the study period. The results revealed that 77% of the calves seroconverted to T. parva , 82% to T. mutans , 50% to A. marginale , and 36% to B. bigemina ( Kiara et al, 2014 ). When compared to the adjusted prevalences of these parasites as estimated by RLB (12.1%, 71.6%, 0% and 0.2%, respectively), it is clear that many of the infections with these parasites, apart from T. mutans , appear to have been resolved to the extent that the blood stages of the parasites are no longer detectable at 51 weeks.…”

Molecular Detection of Tick-Borne Pathogen Diversities in Ticks from Livestock and Reptiles along the Shores and Adjacent Islands of Lake Victoria and Lake Baringo, Kenya

“…In Kenya, TBPs (including viral diseases—arboviruses) like Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), Dugbe, Kupe, and Hazara, as well as hemoparasites that cause babesiosis, theileriosis, and rickettsiosis, are major impediments to livestock productivity and public health (3–6). …”