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Infections and risk factors for livestock with species of Anaplasma, Babesia and Brucella under semi-nomadic rearing in Karamoja Region, Uganda

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Abstract

A survey was conducted to estimate the prevalence of Anaplasma, Babesia and Brucella spp. infections in cattle, goats and sheep in the Karamoja Region of Uganda and to identify possible risk factors existing in this semi-nomadic and pastoral area. Low cost laboratory tests were used to diagnose infections (Rose Bengal test for Brucella spp. antibodies and direct microscopic examination for Anaplasma and Babesia spp.). Multivariable logistic regression models were applied to identify possible risk factors linked to gender, animal species, age (only for cattle) and districts. A total of 3935 cattle, 729 goats and 306 sheep of five districts of the Karamoja Region were tested. Seroprevalence for Brucella was 9.2 % (CI, 95 %: 8.4–10), for Anaplasma 19.5 % (CI 95 %: 18.4–20.6) and for Babesia 16 % (CI 95 %: 15–17.1). Significant differences in infections prevalence were observed against risk factors associated with districts and species. Cattle were the species with higher risk of the infections. Female gender was identified as at risk only for Brucella spp. infection. Cattle more than one year old had greater likelihood to be Brucella seropositive. Co-infections of Anaplasma and Babesia spp. were statistically associated, especially in goats and sheep. Further studies to identify risk factors related to host species and geographical districts are needed. The influence on the semi-nomadic agro-pastoral system in Karamoja of animal raids and animal mixing should be further investigated. Findings were important to sensitize Karamojong undertaking measures on infection control, especially on cattle, which are their main source of food.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the C&D staff and organization for embracing and supporting this study, in particular Carlo Ruspantini, Cristiana Strozzi, Cristina Raisi, Federico Soranzo, Pierangela Cantini, and Antonio Petrella. We are enormously grateful to the staff of the C&D Laboratory of Moroto (Michael Omodo, Samuel Okiror, Mariko Iiko, and Fred Akena), for their invaluable help in collecting data, and to Costanza Azzari for her collaboration. We are extremely grateful to all the Karamojong farmers who allowed and helped us in sampling their animals. Without the precious collaboration of all these people this study could not be possible.

The study was supported by the project funded by the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO), with DanChurchAid (DCA) heading a consortium of international and local organizations with in-depth and long-term experience with pastoral communities that include Karamoja Agro-pastoral Development Programme (KADP), Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED) and Institute for International Cooperation & Development (C&D) (Project ECHO/HF/BUD/2008/01010—Drought Preparedness, Karamoja and Pokot, implemented in Uganda and Kenya).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Via Bontempi 3, 06089, Torgiano, Perugia, Italy

    Chiara Lolli

  2. Department of Veterinary Medicine, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126, Perugia, Italy

    Maria Luisa Marenzoni & Silvana Diverio

  3. Africa Mission–Cooperazione e Sviluppo, Via Cesare Martelli 6, 29122, Piacenza, Italy

    Paolo Strona

  4. International Cooperation and Development NGO (C&D), Lugugo Bypass, Plot 5, P.O. Box 7205, Kampala, Uganda

    Pier Giorgio Lappo

  5. Karamoja Veterinary Laboratory, Institute for International Cooperation and Development (C&D), Moroto, Uganda

    Patrick Etiang

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  1. Chiara Lolli
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  2. Maria Luisa Marenzoni
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Correspondence to Silvana Diverio.

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Lolli, C., Marenzoni, M.L., Strona, P. et al. Infections and risk factors for livestock with species of Anaplasma, Babesia and Brucella under semi-nomadic rearing in Karamoja Region, Uganda. Trop Anim Health Prod 48, 603–611 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-016-1005-x

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