Abstract
BackgroundThe aim of the current study was to assess the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis (BTB) in cattle, goats, and camels, and its zoonotic potential within the traditional livestock raising communities in four regions of Eritrea. The Single Intradermal Comparative Tuberculin Test (SICTT) as indicator of M. bovis infection was conducted on 1077 cattle, 876 goats, and 195 camels. To elucidate possible risk factors for BTB transmission between animals and its potential zoonotic implication, questionnaire based face-to-face interviews were conducted in households of which 232 raised cattle, 128 goats, and 29 camels.ResultsThe results of the SCITT were interpreted using the OIE standard (> 4 mm cut-off) for positive responses. In cattle, individual animal (n = 1077) and herd (n = 413) prevalences were 1.2% (n = 13) [Confidence Interval (CI) 95% CI, 1.0–1.3%] and 3.2% (n = 13) (95% CI, 3.0–3.4%), respectively. In goats (n = 876), none of the animals was positive. In camels, individual animal (n = 195) and herd (n = 70), BTB prevalences were 1.5% (n = 3) (95% CI,1.4–1.6%) and 2.9(n = 2) (95% CI, 0.9–4.6%), respectively. Overall, male animals were more at risk (OR = 2.6; 95% CI:1.0–8.7) when compared to females. Sharing of water points, introduction of new animals into herds and migration of animals over large distances were common events that may contribute to intra and inter-species transmission of BTB. Consumption of raw milk, lack of BTB transmission awareness, and low levels of education were common in the farming communities.ConclusionThe current study highlighted a low prevalence of M. bovis in cattle, goats and camels in extensive traditional livestock in Eritrea. Despite this, the spatial distribution of affected animals across most of the sampled regions and consumption of unpasteurized milk warrants surveillance, cautious and timely control measures for the disease.
Highlights
The aim of the current study was to assess the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis (BTB) in cattle, goats, and camels, and its zoonotic potential within the traditional livestock raising communities in four regions of Eritrea
This study presents the first efforts to assess the prevalence of BTB in cattle, goats and camels, and its zoonotic potential within the extensive traditional livestock husbandry system in Eritrea (Fig. 1)
The current study has shown that Single Intradermal Comparative Tuberculin Test (SICTT) reactors are rare in cattle and camels and were not found in goats
Summary
The aim of the current study was to assess the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis (BTB) in cattle, goats, and camels, and its zoonotic potential within the traditional livestock raising communities in four regions of Eritrea. Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) is a chronic bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis), a member of the group known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC), that has a wide host range. It predominantly affects cattle, and other domesticated species, like goats [1,2,3,4], and camels [5, 6], as well as many wildlife species [7, 8]. In neighbouring Ethiopia, with similar agricultural settings, BTB was reported to be prevalent in the ‘intensive’ dairy cattle in different studies (11.6% and 22.1%, respectively) [16, 17], as well as in cattle in the traditional extensive livestock husbandry system (8.2% and 11%, respectively) [16,17,18]
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