Prevalence and risk factors associated with Ehrlichia infections in smallholder dairy cattle in Nairobi City County, Kenya
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Date
2019-10-24Author
Shepelo, Getrude P.
Gakuya, Daniel W
Ndichu, Maingi
Mulei, Charles M.
Type
ArticleLanguage
en_USMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Background and Aim: Ehrlichiosis caused by Ehrlichia ruminantium is a tick-borne disease of great economic importance
in cattle production worldwide. Despite its economic impact, limited knowledge is available on its epidemiology in Africa,
including Kenya. Suspected cases of E. ruminantium infections have been reported in the recent past to the University of
Nairobi’s Veterinary Hospital, prompting the need to investigate their possible re-emergence. Therefore, this study was
aimed at determining the prevalence of E. ruminantium among smallholder dairy cattle in Nairobi City County and to
assess potential risk factors. This knowledge may guide the development of appropriate control strategies of ehrlichiosis,
subsequently reducing associated losses.
Materials and Methods: A total of 107 smallholder dairy farms from Nairobi City County were recruited for the study.
Blood samples were collected from 314 apparently healthy dairy cattle, and Giemsa-stained blood smears were screened
under the microscope for Ehrlichia species. A commercial antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit was
then used to confirm the presence of the infections in serum samples. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect data on
management practices that may be potential risk factors. A univariate and mixed-effects logistic regression was then used
to determine significant risk factors.
Results: On microscopy, 79.3% (249/314) of the sampled animals had Ehrlichia-like inclusion bodies in white blood
cells, though only 18.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 14.2-23.0) of these were confirmed to be E. ruminantium on
ELISA. A farm-level prevalence of 35.5% (95% CI 27.0-45.3) was reported. Female-headed households (p=0.013), farms
in Langata region (p=0.027), cleaning of cowsheds fortnightly (p=0.019), and roofing of cowshed (p=0.022) were factors
significantly associated with E. ruminantium infections.
Conclusion: There is a relatively high prevalence of E. ruminantium infections in apparently healthy cattle in smallholder
dairy farms in this area, warranting control measures. It is critical to improve animal welfare-related factors, such as
cowshed cleaning and roofing, as well as the strategic location of farms, especially, since reservoirs may reduce infection
levels in the farms, in relation to wildlife. However, since Ehrlichia-like inclusion bodies other than those of E. ruminantium
were observed in this study, there is a need to investigate further these factors and the possibility of other Ehrlichia species
infecting cattle in the study area
URI
https://doaj.org/article/600c87a9015b47cb93a6b31c29c8a7fahttp://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/handle/11295/108939
Citation
Peter SG, Gakuya DW, Maingi N, Mulei CM (2019) Prevalence and risk factors associated with Ehrlichia infections in smallholder dairy cattle in Nairobi City County, Kenya, Veterinary World, 12(10): 1599-1607Publisher
Veterinary World