Abstract
Previous work identified that bacterial zoonoses (Brucella species, Coxiella burnetii and Leptospira hardjo) were present in Cameroonian pastoral cattle. To assess the characteristics of this zoonotic risk, we analyse seroprevalence of each pathogen and the associated management, herd and environmental factors in Cameroonian pastoral and dairy cattle. Cross-sectional samples included pastoralist herds in the Northwest Region (NWR n=750) and Vina Division (VD n=748) and small holder dairy herds in the NWR (n=60). Exposure to Brucella spp., C.burnetii and L.hardjo were screened for using commercial ELISAs and population adjusted estimates made. In addition, individual, herd and ecological metadata were collected and used to identify risk factors associated with animal-level seropositivity. In the pastoral cattle, seroprevalence to Brucella spp. was relatively low but was higher in the NWR (4.2%, CI: 2.5%-7.0%) than the VD (1.1%: CI 0.5%-2.4%), while L.hardjo seroprevalence was much higher though similar in the NWR (30.7%, CI 26.3%-35.5%) and VD (35.9%, CI 31.3%-40.7%). No differences were noted in C. burnetii seroprevalence between the two study sites (NWR: 14.6%, CI 11.8%-18.0%. VD: 12.4%, 9.6%-15.9%). Compared to pastoral, dairy cattle had lower seroprevalences for L. hardjo (1.7%, CI: 0.0%-4.9%), C. burnetii (0.0%, CI 0.0%-6.0%) but similar for Brucella spp. (5.0%, CI 0.0%-10.6%). Increased odds of Brucella spp. seropositivity were associated with owning sheep or rearing sheep and fencing cattle in at night. Adult cattle had increased odds of being seropositive for both C.burnetii and L.hardjo. Additionally, exposure to C.burnetii was associated with local ecological conditions and L.hardjo was negatively associated with cattle undertaking transhumance. This work highlights that exposure to these 3 important production diseases and occupational zoonoses are widespread in Cameroonian cattle. Further work is required to understand transmission dynamics between humans and livestock to inform implementation of effective control measures.
Highlights
Cattle rearing is nutritionally, economically and culturally important to rural livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) (Dessie & Okeyo Mwai, 2019), with livestock contributing ~30% of the continent's agricultural gross domestic product (FAO, 2020)
We highlighted that Brucella spp., C. burnetii and L. hardjo continue to circulate in pastoral herds and were able to identify risk factors associated with cattle seropositivity in Cameroon
Close contact with bovines has been identified in pastoral systems elsewhere in SSA as a risk factor for exposure to Brucella spp
Summary
Economically and culturally important to rural livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) (Dessie & Okeyo Mwai, 2019), with livestock contributing ~30% of the continent's agricultural gross domestic product (FAO, 2020). Intensification of cattle production systems is seen as an important part of economic development (Otte et al, 2019) Despite their value, cattle pose a risk to human populations by acting as a source of zoonotic infections. Human infections are often associated with individuals with greatest animal contacts such as animal keepers, abattoir workers and those that consume unpasteurized milk (Dadar et al, 2020; Mgode et al, 2015; Pereira et al, 2020; Vanderburg et al, 2014) Bacterial zoonoses such as Brucella abortus (the major Brucella spp. in bovine populations), Coxiella burnetii (Q fever) and Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo (the major L. hardjo) have been reported in cattle and human populations in SSA (Ducrotoy et al, 2017; Mgode et al, 2015; Vanderburg et al, 2014). Exposure to important production diseases and occupational zoonoses are still widespread in Cameroonian cattle, including Brucella species, Coxiella burnetii and Leptospira hardjo Their presence poses a risk to the health and livelihoods of animal-keeping communities in Cameroon.
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