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A review on prevalence, control measure, and tolerance of Tanzania Shorthorn Zebu cattle to East Coast fever in Tanzania

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Abstract

In Tanzania, control of East Coast fever (ECF) has predominantly relied on tick control using acaricides and chemotherapy, little on ECF vaccination, and very little on dissemination regarding animal immunization. In this paper, the prevalence, control measure, and tolerance of Tanzania Shorthorn Zebu (TSHZ) cattle to ECF are reviewed. In addition, the opportunities available for reducing the use of acaricides for the benefit of the farmers in terms of reduction of costs of purchasing acaricides and environmental pollution are described. The tick distribution and epidemiological factors for ECF such as the agro-ecological zones (AEZ), livestock production systems (LPS), strain, and age of the animals are also described. These factors influence the epidemiology of ECF and the distribution of TSHZ strains in different geographic locations of Tanzania. We have further showed that there is a tendency of farmers to select among the strains of TSHZ for animals which can tolerate ticks and ECF and crossbreed them with their local strains with the aim of benefiting from the inherent characteristics of the most tolerant strains. Generally, many strains of TSHZ cattle are tolerant to tick infestation and ECF infection and can be bred to respond to the needs of the people. In this review paper, we recommend that in future, ECF epidemiological studies should account for factors such as livestock production system, agro-climate, breed of animal, tick control strategy, and the dynamic interactions between them. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that an integrated control method involving use of acaricides, immunization, and ECF-tolerant/-resistant animals is required.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are very grateful for the financial support from the Norwegian Agency for International Development (NORAD) provided through the program for Enhancing Pro-poor Innovation in Natural Resources and Agricultural Value Chains (EPINAV) at Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School Quality Assurance Department, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Eastern Zone, P.O. Box 325, Morogoro, Tanzania

    E. L. K. Laisser

  2. Department of Animal, Aquaculture and Range Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), P.O.Box 3004, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania

    E. L. K. Laisser, S. W. Chenyambuga & G. Msalya

  3. Department of MedicalSciences, SUA, P.O.Box 3021, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania

    E. D. Karimuribo

  4. Department of Anatomy, Histology and Cell Biology, SUA, P.O.Box 3016, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania

    M. J. Kipanyula

  5. Tanzania Livestock Research Institute, Mabuki, P.O. Box 352, Mwanza, Tanzania

    A. J. Mwilawa

  6. Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, SUA, P.O.Box 3021, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania

    R. H. Mdegela

  7. Mzumbe University, P.O. Box 1, Mzumbe, Morogoro, Tanzania

    L. J. M. Kusiluka

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  1. E. L. K. Laisser
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  2. S. W. Chenyambuga
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  3. E. D. Karimuribo
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  4. G. Msalya
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  6. A. J. Mwilawa
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  7. R. H. Mdegela
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  8. L. J. M. Kusiluka
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Correspondence to E. L. K. Laisser.

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Laisser, E.L.K., Chenyambuga, S.W., Karimuribo, E.D. et al. A review on prevalence, control measure, and tolerance of Tanzania Shorthorn Zebu cattle to East Coast fever in Tanzania. Trop Anim Health Prod 49, 813–822 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-017-1266-z

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