Prevalence and Risk Factors of East Coast Fever in the Copperbelt and Central Provinces of Zambia

Abstract

<jats:p>East Coast fever (ECF) is an infectious tick-borne disease of cattle, caused by a protozoan parasite Theileriaparva. Itis a disease of major economic importance in Zambia, being the main cause of cattle morbidity and mortality. Despite its economic importance, the epidemiology of ECF in Zambia is poorly understood, thereby making ECF prevention and control difficult. Further, there is limited published literature on this disease in Zambia, with the little available research concentrating on Southern and Eastern provinces. We conducted a cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of ECF in Copperbelt and Central provinces of Zambia. The provinces and districts were selected based on their vast potential for livestock production and the previously reported incidence of ECF. From each district, two veterinary camps were randomly selected and from each camp herds were randomly selected, from which individual animals were randomly sampled. Lymph node biopsies were collected from Mpongwe and Masaiti districts (Copperbelt province) and Kapiri Mposhi and Chibombo districts (Central province). Lymph smears were prepared and stained with Giemsa for microscopic examination. Microscopic examination of lymph smears revealed that 6.4% (95%, CI=4.9-7.9) of the samples were positive for T. parva schizonts. The Copperbelt province prevalence was 6.1% (95%, CI=4.0-8.2) while in Central province it was 6.7% (95%, CI=4.5-8.9). Among the districts in these provinces, Kapiri Mposhi did not record any schizont positive cattle, while Chibombo had the highest prevalence at 13.6% (95%, CI=9.4-17.9). Risk factors that were identified to be associated with Theileria schizonts in cattle were locality (district), previous experience of ECF, tick burden, and age. These results indicate that ECF is prevalent in Copperbelt and Central provinces of Zambia. Concerted efforts are needed to control ticks and prevent ECF through farmer sensitization, routine, regular, mandatory and supervised dipping or spraying of cattle and stringent livestock movement control to help bring down ECF prevalence.</jats:p>