Influence of dipping practices on the seroprevalence of babesiosis and anaplasmosis in the foot-and-mouth disease buffer zone adjoining the Kruger National Park in South Africa

K.B Stevens,A.M Spickett,W Vosloo,B Du Plessis,E Dyason,D.U Pfeiffer

doi:10.4102/ojvr.v74i2.129

Abstract

A serological survey of bovine babesiosis and anaplasmosis was conducted in the foot-and-mouth disease buffer zone surrounding the Kruger National Park in South Africa between 2001 and 2003 to determine whether the withdrawal of government-subsidized dipping in certain regions had affected the seroprevalence of these tick-borne diseases. Seroprevalence of Anaplasma marginale and Babesia bovis increased during the study period. This increase was greater in Limpopo Province where farmers had to supply their own acaricide than in Mpumalanga Province where dipping materials were provided by the local Veterinary Services. The number of animals testing positive for B. bigemina decreased in both provinces during the study period, which was attributed to possible vector displacement rather than more effective tick control measures. Responses to a questionnaire on ticks and tick-borne diseases revealed local knowledge on the subject to be highly variable and sometimes incorrect.

Highlights

South Africa has been accorded a foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease-free without vaccination status by Accepted for publication 11 October 2006—Editor the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) with the exception of the wildlife reserve, the Kruger National Park (KNP), and adjacent private wildlife parks which are considered as the only endemically infected areas in the country due to the presence of persistently infected African buffaloes, Syncerus caffer
As an Seroprevalence of babesiosis and anaplasmosis in foot-and-mouth disease in South Africa incentive for farmers to present their animals for weekly inspection and disease interventions, the South African government has traditionally provided the means and infrastructure for tick control in communal farming areas such as these
By investigating the spatio-temporal patterns of the prevalence of B. bovis, B. bigemina and A. marginale between 2001 and 2003 in the ‘buffer zone with vaccination’, this study aimed to determine whether these regional changes in tick control measures had affected the seroprevalence of these three diseases, and to investigate by means of a questionnaire the perceptions of local farmers regarding ticks and tick-borne diseases

Summary

Introduction

South Africa has been accorded a foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease-free without vaccination status by Accepted for publication 11 October 2006—Editor the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) with the exception of the wildlife reserve, the Kruger National Park (KNP), and adjacent private wildlife parks which are considered as the only endemically infected areas in the country due to the presence of persistently infected African buffaloes, Syncerus caffer. A ‘buffer zone where vaccination is not allowed’, surrounds the ‘buffer zone with vaccination’, and separates the endemically infected area from the FMD-free zone. As an Seroprevalence of babesiosis and anaplasmosis in foot-and-mouth disease in South Africa incentive for farmers to present their animals for weekly inspection and disease interventions, the South African government has traditionally provided the means and infrastructure for tick control in communal farming areas such as these. The cause of Asiatic babesiosis or redwater, Babesia bigemina, the cause of African babesiosis or redwater and Anaplasma marginale, the cause of gallsickness or anaplasmosis, are all tick-borne parasites of major economic importance in southern Africa (Norval 1994)

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