Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T08:03:42.488Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Associations between trematode infections in cattle and freshwater snails in highland and lowland areas of Iringa Rural District, Tanzania

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 July 2015

JAHASHI NZALAWAHE
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3019, Morogoro, Tanzania
AYUB A. KASSUKU
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3019, Morogoro, Tanzania
J. RUSSELL STOTHARD
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
GERALD C. COLES
Affiliation:
School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, Bristol, UK
MARK C. EISLER*
Affiliation:
School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, Bristol, UK
*
* Corresponding author. School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, Bristol, UK. E-mail: [email protected]

Summary

The epidemiology of trematode infections in cattle was investigated within highland and lowland areas of Iringa Rural District, in southern Tanzania. Fecal samples were collected from 450 cattle in 15 villages at altitudes ranging from 696 to 1800 m above the sea level. Freshwater snails were collected from selected water bodies and screened for emergence of cercariae. The infection rates in cattle were Fasciola gigantica 28·2%, paramphistomes 62·8% and Schistosoma bovis 4·8%. Notably, prevalence of trematode infections in cattle was much higher in highland (altitude > 1500 m) as compared with lowland (altitude < 1500 m) areas and was statistically significant (P-value = 0·000) for F. gigantica and paramphistomes but not for S. bovis. The snails collected included Lymnaea natalensis, Bulinus africanus, Bulinus tropicus, Bulinus forskali, Biomphalaria pfeifferi, Melanoides tuberculata and Bellamya constricta with a greater proportion of highland (75%) than lowland (36%) water bodies harbouring snails. Altitude is a major factor shaping the epidemiology of F. gigantica and paramphistomes infections in cattle in Iringa Rural District with greater emphasis upon control needed in highland areas.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Bennett, S., Woods, T., Liyanage, W. M. and Smith, D. L. (1991). A simplified general method for cluster-sample surveys of health in developing countries. World Health Statistics Quarterly 44, 98106.Google Scholar
Brown, D. S. (1994) Freshwater Snails of Africa and their Medical Importance, 2nd Edn. Taylor and Francis Ltd, London.Google Scholar
Cheruiyot, H. K. (1983). Bovine helminths parasites of economic importance: abattoir survey in Kenya 1976–1980. Bulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa 31, 67375.Google Scholar
Chingwena, G., Mukaratirwa, S., Kristensen, T. K. and Chimbari, M. (2002). Susceptibility of freshwater snails to the amphistome Calicophoron microbothrium and the influence of the species on susceptibility of Bulinus tropicus to Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma mattheei infections. Journal of Parasitology 88, 880883.Google Scholar
Coulibaly, G. and Madsen, H. (1990). Seasonal fluctuations of intermediate hosts of schistosomes in two streams in Bamako, Mali. Journal of African Zoology 104, 201212.Google Scholar
De Bont, J., Vercruysse, J., Southgate, V. R., Rollinson, D. and Kaukas, A. (1994). Cattle schistosomiasis in Zambia. Journal of Helminthology 68, 295299.Google Scholar
Frandsen, F. and Christensen, N. (1984). An introductory guide to the identification of cercariae from African freshwater snails with special reference to cercariae of medical and veterinary importance. Acta Tropica 41, 181202.Google Scholar
Frandsen, F., McCollough, F. and Madsen, H. (1980). A Practical Guide to the Identification of African Freshwater Snails. Malacological Review, Michigan, USA.Google Scholar
Howell, A., Mugisha, L., Davies, J., LaCourse, E. J., Claridge, J., Williams, D. J. L., Kelly-Hope, L., Betson, M., Kabatereine, N. B. and Stothard, J. R. (2012). Bovine fasciolosis at increasing altitudes: parasitological and malacological sampling on the slopes of Mount Elgon, Uganda. Parasites and Vectors 5, 196.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hyera, J. M. K. (1984). Prevalence, seasonal variation and economic significance of fascioliasis in cattle as observed at Iringa abattoir between 1976 and 1980. Bulletin Animal Health Production Africa 32, 356359.Google Scholar
Iringa District Council (2013). Annual Report 2013. Iringa District Council, Iringa, Tanzania.Google Scholar
Kassuku, A. A., Christensen, N. O., Monrad, J., Nansen, P. and Knudsen, J. (1986) Epidemiological studies of Schistosoma bovis in Iringa region, Tanzania. Acta Tropica 43, 153163.Google Scholar
Keyyu, J. D., Kyvsgaard, N. C., Kassuku, A. A. and Willingham, A. L. (2003). Worm control practices and anthelmintic usage in traditional and dairy cattle farms in the southern highlands of Tanzania. Veterinary Parasitology 114, 5161.Google Scholar
Keyyu, J. D., Monrad, J., Kyvsgaard, N. C. and Kassuku, A. A. (2005). Epidemiology of Fasciola gigantica and amphistomes in cattle on traditional, small scale dairy and large scale dairy farms in the southern highlands of Tanzania. Tropical Animal Health and Production 37, 303314.Google Scholar
Keyyu, J. D., Kassuku, A. A., Msalilwa, L. P., Monrad, J. and Kyvsgaard, N. C. (2006). Cross-sectional prevalence of helminth infections in cattle on traditional, small-scale and large-scale dairy farms in Iringa district, Tanzania. Veterinary Research communications 30, 4555.Google Scholar
Komba, E. V. G., Komba, E. V., Mkupasi, E. M., Mbyuzi, A. O., Mshamu, S., Luwumba, D., Busagwe, Z. and Mzula, A. (2012). Sanitary practices and occurrence of zoonotic conditions in cattle at slaughter in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania: implications for public health. Tanzania Journal of Health Research 14, 112. doi: 10.4314/thrb.v14i2.6.Google Scholar
Kumar, V. (1999). Trematode Infections and Diseases of Man and Animals. Springer, Netherlands.Google Scholar
Mahlau, E. A. (1970). Liver fluke survey in zebu cattle of Iringa region, Tanzania and first finding of the small fluke Dicrocoelium hospes (Loos, 1907). Bulletin of Epizootic Diseases in Africa 18, 2128.Google Scholar
Majok, A. A., Zessin, K. H., Baumann, M. P. O. and Farver, T. B. (1993). Apparent prevalences of selected parasitic infections of cattle in Bahr el Ghazal province, southern Sudan. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 15, 2533.Google Scholar
Makundi, A. E., Kassuku, A. A., Maselle, R. M. and Boa, M. E. (1998). Distribution, prevalence and intensity of Schistosoma bovis infection in cattle in Iringa district, Tanzania. Veterinary Parasitology 75, 5969.Google Scholar
Malone, J. B., Gommes, R., Hansen, J., Yilma, J. M., Slingenberg, J., Snijders, F., Nachtergaele, F. and Ataman, E. (1998). A geographic information system on the potential distribution and abundance of Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica in East Africa based on Food and Agriculture Organization databases. Veterinary Parasitology 78, 87101.Google Scholar
Mandahl-Barth, G. (1962). Key to the identification of East and Central African freshwater snails of Medical and Veterinary importance. Bulletin of World Health Organization 27, 135150.Google Scholar
Mellau, L. S. B., Nonga, H. E. and Karimuribo, E. D. (2010). A Slaughterhouse survey of liver lesions in slaughtered cattle, sheep and goats at Arusha, Tanzania. Research Journal of Veterinary Sciences 3, 179188.Google Scholar
Mungube, E. O., Bauni, S. M., Tenhagen, B. A., Wamae, L. W., Nginyi, J. M. and Mugambi, J. M. (2006). The prevalence and economic significance of Fasciola gigantica and Stilesia hepatica in slaughtered animals in the semi-arid coastal Kenya. Tropical Animal Health and Production 38, 475483.Google Scholar
Mwabonimana, M. F., Kassuku, A. A., Ngowi, H. A., Mellau, L. S. B., Nonga, H. E. and Karimuribo, E. D. (2009). Prevalence and economic significance of Bovine fasciolosis in slaughtered cattle at Arusha abattoir, Tanzania. Tanzania Veterinary Journal 26, 6874.Google Scholar
Nzalawahe, J. and Komba, E. V. G. (2013). Occurrence and seasonal predisposition of fasciolosis in cattle and goats slaughtered in Kasulu District Abattoir, Western Tanzania. Research Opinions in Animal and Veterinary Sciences 3, 395400.Google Scholar
Nzalawahe, J., Kassuku, A. A., Stothard, J. R., Coles, G. C. and Eisler, M. C. (2014). Trematode infections in cattle in Arumeru District, Tanzania are associated with irrigation. Parasites and Vectors 7, 107.Google Scholar
Ogambo-Ongoma, A. H. (1972). Fascioliasis survey in Uganda. Bulletin of Epizootic Diseases of Africa 20, 3541.Google ScholarPubMed
Pfukenyi, D. M., Monrad, J. and Mukaratirwa, S. (2005). Epidemiology of trematode infections in cattle in Zimbabwe: a review. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association 76, 917.Google Scholar
Pfukenyi, D. M., Mukaratirwa, S., Willingham, A. L. and Monrad, J. (2006). Epidemiological studies of Fasciola gigantic infections in cattle in the highveld and lowveld communal grazing areas of Zimbabwe. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research 73, 3751.Google Scholar
R Development Core Team (2012). R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. ISBN 3-900051-07-0. http://www.R-project.org/ Google Scholar
Schillhorn van Veen, T. W., Folaranmi, D. O. B., Usman, S. and Ishaya, T. (1980). Incidence of liver fluke infections (Fasciola gigantic and Dicrocoelium hospes) in ruminants in Northern Nigeria. Tropical Animal Health and Production 12, 97104.Google Scholar
Soulsby, E. J. L. (1982). Helminths, Arthropods and Protozoa of Domesticated Animals, 7th Edn. Baillere-Tindall, London, UK.Google Scholar
Southgate, V. R., Brown, D. S., Rollison, D., Ross, G. C. and Knowles, R. J. (1985). Bulinus tropicus from central Kenya acting as host for Schistosoma bovis . Zeitschrift für Parasitenkunde 71, 6169.Google Scholar
Southgate, V. R., Brown, D. S., Warlow, A., Knowles, R. J. and Jones, A. (1989). The influence of Calicophoron microbothrium on the susceptibility of Bulinus tropicus to Schistosoma bovis . Parasitology Research 75, 381391.Google Scholar
Swai, E. S. and Ulicky, E. (2009). An evaluation of the economic losses resulting from condemnation of cattle livers and loss of carcass weight due to fasciolosis, a case study from Hai town abattoir, Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania. Livestock Research for Rural Development 21, 19. http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd21/11/swai21186.htm.Google Scholar
Traore, A. (1989). Incidence and control of fascioliasis around Niono, central Mali. ILCA Bulletin 33: http://www.ilri.org/InfoServ/Webpub/fulldocs/Bulletin33/incide.htm Google Scholar
Valero, M. A., Perez-Crespo, I. M., Periago, V., Khoubbane, M. and Mas-Coma, S. (2009). Fluke egg characteristics for the diagnosis of human and animal fascioliasis by Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica . Acta Tropica 111, 150159.Google Scholar
Walker, S. M., Makundi, A. E., Namuba, F. V., Kassuku, A. A., Keyyu, J., Hoey, E. M., Prodohl, P., Stothard, J. R. and Trudgett, A. (2008). The distribution of Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica within southern Tanzania--constraints associated with the intermediate host. Parasitology 135, 495503.Google Scholar
Wamae, L. W., Hammond, J. A., Harrison, L. J. S. and Onyango-Abuje, J. A. (1998). Comparison of production losses caused by chronic Fasciola gigantica infection in yearling Friesian and Boran cattle. Tropical Animal Health and Production 30, 2330.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Waruiru, R. M., Kyvsgaard, N. C., Thamsborg, S. M., Nansen, P., Bøgh, H. O., Munyua, W. K. and Gathuma, J. M. (2000). The prevalence and intensity of helminth and coccidial infections in dairy cattle in central Kenya. Veterinary Research Communications 24, 3953.Google Scholar
Yabe, J., Phiri, I. K., Phiri, A. M., Chembensofu, M., Dorny, P. and Vercruysse, J. (2008). Concurrent infections of Fasciola, Schistosoma and Amphistomum spp. in cattle from Kafue and Zambezi river basins of Zambia. Journal of Helminthology 82, 373376.Google Scholar
Yilma, J. M. and Malone, J. B. (1998). A geographic information system forecast model for strategic control of fasciolosis in Ethiopia. Veterinary Parasitology 78, 3127.Google Scholar