Factors Influencing the Transborder Transmission of Brucellosis in Cattle Between Côte d'Ivoire and Mali: Evidence From Literature and Current Key Stakeholders.

Kanny Diallo,Bassirou Bonfoh,Wilfried Délé Oyetola,Rianatou Bada Alambedji,Esther Schelling,Philippe Soumahoro Kone,Katharina Kreppel

doi:10.3389/fvets.2021.630580

Abstract

Brucellosis is one of the main zoonoses affecting ruminants. Cattle and small ruminants are involved in transhumance and trade between Côte d'Ivoire and Mali. The endemic nature of the disease in both countries, connected through transhumance, poses unique challenges and requires more information to facilitate disease surveillance and the development of integrated control strategies. This study aimed to assess the main factors influencing the historical and current transborder transmission of brucellosis between Côte d'Ivoire and Mali. A literature review was conducted and data collection was performed through a participatory, transdisciplinary process by holding focus group discussions and interviews with key stakeholders. Cattle breeders, herdsmen, professionals of animal and human health, border control agents and experts took part. The data was analyzed to generate essential new knowledge for transborder brucellosis transmission factors and control strategies. From the literature, the seroprevalence of brucellosis in both countries varied from 11% (1987) to 20% (2013) and 15% (1972–1973) to 5% (2012–2014) in Mali and Côte d'Ivoire, respectively. The reduction of seroprevalence in Côte d'Ivoire was the result of the annual vaccination campaigns which lowered it from 28% (1978) to 14% (1984) after an increase due to livestock policy implemented in 1976. The meta-analysis and interviews jointly showed that the cross-border mobility was associated with the livestock development policy in Côte d'Ivoire as well as the ECOWAS act on the free movement of people and goods. This act supported the seasonal transhumance of livestock for access to pasture land in southern humid zones in Côte d'Ivoire. The seasonal mobility for grazing and trade was the main risk factor for the spread of brucellosis between pastoral zones of both countries. The existing legal health framework and border control mechanism do not achieve transborder surveillance to control brucellosis. Existing sanitary regulations should be adapted at regional scale to integrate a joint surveillance of high priority zoonotic diseases like brucellosis at border controls.

Highlights

Brucellosis is a neglected zoonotic disease widely present in SubSaharan Africa (1) where the most common bacterial species are Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis (2)
Environmental Factors in Transborder Brucellosis Spread The results suggest that an increase in the frequency of droughts and the resulting reduction in grazing areas in Mali drove an increase in transhumance toward humid zones (Côte d’Ivoire)
In Mali, brucellosis was reported during several deficit rainfall periods, which resulted in major droughts and increased crossborder transhumance due to scarcity of grazing areas (35)

Summary

Introduction

Brucellosis is a neglected zoonotic disease widely present in SubSaharan Africa (1) where the most common bacterial species are Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis (2). It has been declared a priority zoonosis in Côte d’Ivoire (3) and Mali (4), and the only strain identified in the area is B. abortus (5–7), affecting cattle, small ruminants and humans. The economic losses due to brucellosis in animals are due to a decline in fertility in cows, resulting from abortions, and the reduction of milk production. In Mali, decreased fertility and lower milk production have been estimated to be 20 and 16%, respectively (8). The infection is often confused with other febrile illnesses, resulting in ineffective treatment, high treatment costs and morbidity resulting in the inability to work (12, 13)

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