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

Abstract

Livestock production is a major sector of the Ugandan economy. Ugandan ruminant livestock (principally cattle and goats) are susceptible to hemoparasites that can cause serious clinical disease and production losses. Kibale National Park, in western Uganda, is a protected forest ecosystem surrounded by small-scale farms where cattle and goats are raised. We conducted a cross-sectional study of cattle and goats in this area and diagnosed hemoparasite infections by microscopy. We collected data on animal characteristics and management practices to assess risk factors associated with infection. We studied 186 cattle and 317 goats from 20 villages, including 16 villages directly adjacent to Kibale and 4 villages ≥ 3 km from the park boundary. Hemoparasites detected in cattle and goats were of the genera Theileria, Anaplasma, and Trypanosoma with a prevalence of 15.1%, 1.6%, and 4.3% respectively in cattle, and 10%, 6.0%, and 0.0%, respectively in goats. Trypanosomes infected approximately 8% of cattle in villages bordering Kibale but were never detected in cattle in “control” villages ≥3 km from the park. Trypanosomes were approximately 7 times more likely to infect animals in households that did not provide veterinary care to their animals than in households that provided routine veterinary care. Within cattle, Theileria infections were approximately 7 times more likely to occur in cross-bred cattle than in indigenous pure breeds. Anaplasma infections were approximately 3.5 times more likely to occur in cattle than in goats (no goats were diagnosed with Trypanosoma infection). These data suggest that proximity to the park, provision of veterinary care, and breed are significant risk factors for hemoparasites in this population of ruminants, and that, in general, cattle are more susceptible than goats.

Survey of husbandry practices for bovidae in zoos: the importance of parasite management for reintroduction programmes

“…The occurrence of blood parasites in antelope populations in zoological institutions would be a concern given their documented impact on the taxa 63 64 . The low prevalence of ectoparasites may further minimise the presence of some haemoparasites (ie, Babesia or Theileria ) 65 . However, as blood samples were not obtained from all individuals in the herd, but rather from an unknown, limited number of animals, the results obtained in this study are inconclusive.…”

Molecular epidemiology of anaplasmosis in small ruminants along a human-livestock-wildlife interface in Uganda

“…There is a need for a more holistic approach in policy for vector control in Uganda given small ruminants, especially ovines are equally infected with Anaplasma bacteria as large ruminants ( Kasozi et al., 2019 ; Matovu et al., 2020 ; Vudriko et al., 2016 ), and are critical to community livelihoods. The presence of Anaplasma parasites in ticks at the forest edge ( Punsantsogvoo et al., 2014 ), increased wildlife-human conflict through increased crop raiding by wildlife ( Siljander et al., 2020 ), disrupts ecosystem health when vectors are exported from the forest to the community by wildlife during crop and animal raids and livestock grazing activities ( Weny et al., 2017 ).Although the lack of sequencing leaves Anaplasma ovis identification without rigorous confirmation, we consider that our positive PCR results for A. ovis MSP4 gene makes A. ovis identification the most likely interpretation. Accordingly, the risk of A. ovis infections in this study was found to be the same for age and sex, and this runs contrary to findings from Sudan in which risk was highest in juveniles and males ( Lee et al., 2018 ).…”

“…Several studies have been conducted on the epidemiology of tick-borne infections in cattle due to their high economic value ( Bardosh et al., 2013 ; Vudriko et al., 2016 ; Weny et al., 2017 ). In Uganda, major Ixoid tick species identified include Rhipicephalus species (especially Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ), Amblyomma species (especially Amblyomma variegatum ) and Hyalomma species ( Hyalomma rufipes and Hyalomma truncatum ) continue to be common in bovines ( Balinandi et al., 2020 ) and these species continue to be present nationwide ( Muhanguzi et al., 2020 ).…”

Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Impacts Community Perceptions around Kibale National Park, Uganda

“…In addition to disease transmission to humans, disease transmission from wildlife in and around KNP to domestic livestock on farms near the border of the park may create conflict between humans and wildlife. Some farmers around KNP rely on livestock production, primarily of cows and goats, for economic gain and/or nutrition [31,53]. Weny et al (2017) [53] found that proximity to KNP, along with the availability of veterinary care and livestock breed, was a significant risk factor for the presence of hemoparasite (blood-borne) infections in domestic cattle and goats on farms around KNP.…”