Effect of a Wildlife-Livestock Interface on the Prevalence of Intra-Erythrocytic Hemoparasites in Cattle

Abstract

We conducted a cross-sectional study to establish the effect of proximity of livestock to a wildlife-livestock interface on the relative abundance of intra-erythrocytic hemoparasites in cattle. Blood samples were obtained from 131 randomlyselected cattle raised around Queen Elizabeth National Park. Cattle-farm location was determined by using Global Positioning System device from an arbitrarily reference point. Giemsa-stained blood smears were examined microscopically for intra-erythrocytic hemoparasites. Correlational analysis was used to examine the relationship between farm location and prevalence, whereas risk ratios were used to determine the strength of mixed hemoparasitic infections among cattle, using a significant level of α = 0.05. The location of a cattle farm significantly predicted the prevalence of Anaplasma (rs = 0.33, p < 0.05) and Theileria (rs = 0.57, p < 0.01) but, farm's proximity to QENP did not explain the variation in the prevalence of Babesia (rs = 0.14, p < 0.2). Although mixed infections occurred in 15% of sampled cattle, concurrent infection of cattle with A. marginale and B. bigemina [RR = 36; 95% CI (7.191); p < 0.001] was the only statistically significant mixed infection which was recorded. This study demonstrated that unlike the prevalence of B. bigemina, the prevalence of T. parva and A. marginale in livestock significantly increased with close proximity to a wildlife-livestock interface.

Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Hemoparasites in Cattle and Goats at the Edge of Kibale National Park, Western Uganda

“…Similarly, Gachohi et al (2009) found that geographical variation in prevalence of Trypanosoma in cattle may reflect differences in management, such as regular use of trypanosome prophylaxis, breed resistance to parasites, and the distribution of tsetse fly vectors. In our setting, the park edge is associated with the presence of wild ungulates (e.g., buffalo) that can serve as reservoir hosts for Trypanosoma (van den Bossche et al, 1999; Kabuusu et al, 2013), suggesting wildlife-to-livestock transmission. However, we cannot rule out indirect environmental effects, such as locational differences in nutritional quality of forage or vector habitat suitability.…”

“…In Uganda, Trypanosoma prevalence is 4 times greater in the western region than in the central region (Kasozi et al, 2014), and prevalence of hemoparasites in cattle varies with agroecological zones and management practices in eastern Uganda (Rubaire-Akiiki et al, 2004). The western region of Uganda contains several national parks, which are foci of biodiversity but also contain sylvatic hosts that serve as sources of infection for livestock (Kabuusu et al , 2013). However, epidemiological studies of how demographic, locational, and environmental factors affect the risk of infection have been rare in Uganda and similar settings.…”

“…Recent studies in Uganda have shown that certain wild ungulates in Queen Elizabeth National Park (which abuts the southern end of Kibale), such as the Cape buffalo ( Syncerus caffer ), may act as reservoirs for certain hemoparasites (Kabuusu et al , 2013). Such findings suggest that a “wildlife-livestock interface” may modify the epidemiology of hemoparasite transmission (Kabuusu et al , 2013).…”

“…Such findings suggest that a “wildlife-livestock interface” may modify the epidemiology of hemoparasite transmission (Kabuusu et al , 2013). Unfortunately, limited access to veterinary diagnostics and molecular data limit the ability to assess the impact of sylvatic infections on domestic livestock (Kasozi et al, 2014).…”

Epidemiology of Increasing Hemo-Parasite Burden in Ugandan Cattle

“…HP are a major threat to food security especially among the livestock dependent communities within the Sub Saharan Africa [6] [20]. Recent studies in Uganda [21]- [23] and South Africa [24] have shown that certain wild ungulates such as the Cape Buffalo, have continued to act as reservoirs for some of the HP. This challenge is highly magnified at the wildlife-livestock [21] interface within most rural communities which has further modified the epidemiology of the disease.…”