Disease and mortality in small ruminants in the North West Province of Cameroon

Mortality rates and the prevalence of disease were assessed in 115 flocks of traditionally managed sheep and goats in two Divisions of the North West Province of Cameroon by means of a questionnaire to the owners. The mortality rate was significantly higher in sheep than in goats and also higher in young stock than in adults. Tethering the animals during the day resulted in significantly lower mortality in both adult and young sheep and also in kids. Disease problems of small ruminants, identified on the basis of signs reported by their owners, included intestinal parasitism, especially helminthiasis, tick infestation and associated diseases, pneumonia, goat plague (peste des petits ruminants) and Oestrus ovis infestation. Treatment of sick animals was only practised on a very small scale, often by possibly ineffective traditional methods. The owners identified tick infestation and diarrhoea as common causes of death. Recommendations are made on control measures suitable for application in this area.     

Molecular genotyping of Mycobacterium bovis isolated from cattle tissues in the North West Region of Cameroon

An epidemiological study was carried out to determine the Mycobacterium bovis strains causing bovine tuberculosis (TB) in cattle in North West Cameroon. Suspected TB lesions from slaughtered cattle were cultured on Lowenstein–Jensen and Middlebrook 7 H9 media to isolate mycobacteria agents for molecular genotyping using deletion analysis and spoligotyping. PCR-based genomic deletion typing showed that 54 of 103 tubercle bacilli isolated from cattle tissue were M. bovis strains and the African 1 clonal complex was widespread in affected cattle. Spoligotyping analysis revealed a closely related group of five M. bovis strains. SB0953, the dominant spoligotype pattern, and four new patterns identified as SB2161, SB2162, SB2663 and SB2664 according to the www.Mbovis.org international spoligotype database were identified. These spoligotypes were similar to other M. bovis strains recovered from bordering regions and other parts of Africa. The findings provided useful facts on the zoonotic risks of bovine TB and overwhelming evidence of the significance of M. bovis infection to human TB in the North West Region of Cameroon. The study revealed that bovine TB was widespread in cattle destined for human consumption and also has important implications for the control of TB in animals and humans in Cameroon.     

Leptospirosis as the most frequent infectious disease impairing productivity in small ruminants in Rio de Janeiro,Brazil

Despite the importance of small ruminants breeding in developing countries, milk/meat productivity remains unsatisfactory. Infectious diseases, such as leptospirosis, brucellosis, and small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs), contribute to this scenario. The objective of the present study was to determine the role of each of these diseases in the productivity of small ruminants breeding in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In goats, 343 samples were tested for leptospirosis, 560 for Brucella abortus, and 506 for caprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAE), whereas in sheep, 308 samples were tested for leptospirosis, 319 for B. abortus, 374 for Brucella ovis, and 278 for Maedi-Visna (MV). Regarding leptospirosis, 25.9% of goats and 47.4% sheep were seroreactive, with serovar Hardjo the most prevalent in both species. Anti-B. abortus agglutinins were found in 0.7% of all samples, exclusively in goats. In relation to SRLVs, 8.6% of goats and 3.2% of sheep samples were positive for CAE and MV, respectively. Leptospirosis was the major infectious problem in the small ruminants sampled and may contribute to impaired productivity of these animals.     

Nutritional and economic benefits ofLeucaena andGliricidia as feed supplements for small ruminants in humid West Africa

Summary Considering leguminous trees Leucaenaand Gliricidiaas good sources of quality food, on-station and on-farm studies were conducted in the humid zone of West Africa to establish animal responses to levels, times and forms of browse supplementation, to develop alternative feeding strategies for utilising limited feed supply and to assess the economic benefits of feed supplements as against the use of tree foliage as mulch for crop production. Results indicate that at any level of supplement, sheep grew twice as fast as goats. The main benefits of supplementation came through increased growth and survival. Form and level of supplementation had significant effect on intake. Economic analyses showed that crop response to mulching was the principal competing determinant of whether the use of tree foliage as feed supplement was economic.

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Beneficios Nutricionales Y Economicos De La Utilizacion DeLeucaena YGliricidia Como Suplementos Para Pequenos Rumiantes En Zonas Humedas Del Africa Occidental

Resumen Considerando que los árboles de los génerosLeucaena y Gliricidia son fuentes de alimento de buena calidad, se llevaron a cabo estudios en granjas y estaciones experimentales en zonas húmedas del Africa Occidental para determinar (1) la respuesta de los animales a diferentes niveles, momentos y formas de suplementación, (2) desarrollar estrategias de alimentación alternativas para aprovechar alimentos escasos y (3) determinar los beneficios económicos de la utilización de las hojas de los árboles mencionados como suplemento en lugar de como sistema de protección de los cultivos. Los resultados indicaron que, para cualquier nivel de suplementación, las ovejas crecieron dos veces más deprisa que las cabras. Los principales beneficios de la suplementación fueron un aumento en el crecimiento y en la supervivencia. La forma y el nivel de suplementación tuvieron efectos significativos sobre la ingestión. Los análisis económicos indicaron que la respuesta de los cultivos a la protección con hojas y estiercol fue el pricipal factor a tener en cuenta a la hora de decidir acerca de si la utilización de las hojas como suplemento para el ganado resultaba económica.

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Interets Economiques Et Nutritionnels DeLeucaena EtGliricidia En Tant Qu’Apports Alimentaires Pour Les Petits Ruminants De L’Afrique Humide De l’Ouest

Résumé Considerées comme des sources nutritionnelles de qualité, des études furent menées surLeucaena etGliricidia dans les fermes et les lieux d’élevage dans la zone humide d’Afrique de l’ouest dans le but d’établir les résponses des animaux aux niveaux, durées et formes du broutage, pour développer des stratégies alternatives d’alimentation pour l’utilisation limitée d’apports alimentaires et pour estimer les avantages économiques des suppléments nutritionnels par opposition à l’utilisation de ces legumineuses comme terreau pour la production de récolte. Les resultats montrent que quel que soit le niveau d’apport nutritionnel, la croissance des moutons fut deux fois plus rapide que celle des chèvres. Les principaux intérêts de l’apport nutritionnel résiderent dans l’augmentation de croissance et de la survie des animaux. La nature et le niveau de l’apporteurent un effet significatif sur la consommation. Des analyses économiques montrérent que la résponse des récoltes après apport en terreau fut le principal facteur en compétition d’un point de vue économique, pour l’utilisation de ces légumineuses comme supplément alimentaire.

     

Influence of regular tick and helminth control on productivity of small ruminants in the Lolgorien area,Narok district,Kenya

Summary Forty-five indigenous goats (one to two years old) and 45 indigenous sheep (six to eight months old) were exposed to natural tick and gastro-intestinal parasite challenge. All animals were born and reared in a pastoral husbandry system. Throughout the study they were housed at night under improved hygienic conditions and grazed during daytime with the flock from which they originated.Improvement of hygienic conditions reduced mortality. Control of intestinal parasites increased liveweight gain (LWG) in both species and reduced mortality most noticeably in sheep. Regular tick control had a negative influence on LWG in goats over one year old but a positive influence on LWG on young sheep. This, however, was of marginal economic benefit compared to a substantial benefit of helminth control.

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Influencia Del Control Regular De Garrapatas Y De Helmintos Sobre La Productividad De Ruminates Menores En El Area De Lolgorien, Distrito De Narok, Kenia

Resumen Se expusieron a una descarga natural de garrapatas y parásitos gastrointestinales, 45 cabras criollas (uno o dos años de edad) y 45 ovejas criollas (seis a ocho meses de edad). Todos los animales nacieron y se criaron bajo un sistema pastoril. En la noche se mantuvieron bajo condiciones higiénicas mejoradas y durante el día pastorearon con el rebaño original.El mejoramiento de las condiciones higiénicas redujo la mortalidad. El control de parásitos gastrointestinales incrementó el peso corporal (PC) en ambas especies y redujo la mortalidad en ovejas. El control regular de garrapatas en cabras, tuvo una influencia negativa sobre el PC de animales por encima de un año, y un efecto positivo sobre la misma variable en ovejas jovenes. Esto, sin embargo, tuvo un beneficio marginal económico, en relación con el obtenido a través del control de los parásitos internos.

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Influence De Traitements Reguliers Contre Les Tiques Et Les Helminthes Sur La Productivite Des Petits Ruminants Dans La Zone Lolgorien District De Narok Au Kenya

Résumé Quarante cinq chèvres locales (agées de un à deux ans) et quarante cinq moutons locaux ont été exposés à une infestation naturelle par les tiques et les parasites gatro-intestinaux. Tous les animaux étaient nés et élevés dans un système pastoral traditionnel. Durant toute l'étude ils ont été hébergés la nuit dans des conditions d'hygiène améliorées et conduits au pâturage le jour avec le troupeau dont ils étaient originaires. L'amélioration des conditions d'hygiène a réduit la mortalité. La lutte contre les parasites intestinaux a accru les gains de poids quotidiens dans les deux espèces et la réduction de mortalité a été la plus nette chez les moutons. Les traitements ixodicides réguliers ont eu un effet négatif sur les chèvres de plus d'un an, mais un effet positif sur les gains de poids des jeunes moutons. Ceci cependant était d'un intérêt économique marginal par rapport aux bienfaits des traitements anti-vermineux.

     

Mastitis of dairy small ruminants

Staphylococci are the main aetiological agents of small ruminants intramammary infections (IMI), the more frequent isolates being S. aureus in clinical cases and coagulase negative species in subclinical IMI. The clinical IMI, whose annual incidence is usually lower than 5%, mainly occur at the beginning of machine milking and during the first third of lactation. These features constitute small ruminant peculiarities compared to dairy cattle. Small ruminant mastitis is generally a chronic and contagious infection: the primary sources are mammary and cutaneous carriages, and spreading mainly occurs during milking. Somatic cell counts (SCC) represent a valuable tool for prevalence assessment and screening, but predictive values are better in ewes than in goats. Prevention is most often based on milking machine management, sanitation and annual control, and milking technique optimisation. Elimination mainly relies on culling animals exhibiting clinical, chronic and recurrent IMI, and on drying-off intramammary antibiotherapy; this treatment allows a good efficacy and may be used selectively by targeting infected udders only. Heritability values for lactation mean SCC scores are between 0.11 and 0.15. Effective inclusion of ewe's mastitis resistance in the breeding goal has recently been implemented in France following experimental and large scale estimations of genetic parameters for SCC scores.     

Ectoparasite control in small ruminants.

Ectoparasites are a common problem in small ruminants of North America. Management of ectoparasites in small ruminants can be challenging for producers and veterinarians. It is important for the veterinarian to make an accurate diagnosis of the type of ectoparasite that is infesting the animal, then to develop a plan that most effectively and economically controls the ectoparasite. Effective and economic control of an ectoparasite infestation begins with an understanding of the ectoparasite's life cycle and how that life cycle affects the animal. It should be noted that climate and geographical area can affect the life cycle of specific ectoparasites, so it is important for veterinarians to educate themselves about their specific environment. Once the life cycle has been addressed, then the veterinarian should decide which intervention will provide the best control. Intervention possibilities may range from insecticides to environmental management or a combination of several methods. The veterinarian should provide the producer with realistic goals that define specific limitations of ectoparasite control.     

Chlamydial infections in small ruminants.

Chlamydophila abortus (formerly Chlamydia psittaci) is one of the most important causes of reproductive failure in sheep and goats, especially in intensively managed flocks. The disease is usually manifested as abortion in the last 2 to 3 weeks of gestation, regardless of when the animal was infected. Ewes that abort are resistant to future reproductive failure due to C. abortus, but they become inapparent carriers and persistently shed the organism from their reproductive tracts during estrus. Chlamydophila pecorum is the other member of the genus that affects small ruminants, and it is recognized as a primary cause of keratoconjunctivitis in sheep and goats and of polyarthritis in sheep.     

Caseous lymphadenitis in small ruminants.

Caseous lymphadenitis is a contagious bacterial disease that affects sheep and goats. It is characterized by abscess formation in the skin, internal and external lymph nodes, and internal organs. The causative agent is Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. The disease can become endemic in a herd or flock and is difficult to eradicate by virtue of its poor response to therapeutics, its ability to persist in the environment, and the limitations in detecting subclinically affected animals. The disease causes significant economic impact on the small ruminant industry through decreased meat yield, damaged wool and leather, decreased reproductive efficiency, culling of affected animals, and mortality from the internal environment.     

Mycoplasma infections in small ruminants.

Mycoplasmas have complex mechanisms of antigenic variation that allow them to evade the immune system. These organisms cause a variety of clinical syndromes that can have a significant economic effect on small ruminant production. The syndromes range from acute septicemia and death to chronic infection resulting in decreased production. Recent research findings have shed light on the means by which these organisms evade the host immune response and cause or contribute to the development of disease in the host. This article provides a review of the pathogenesis, clinical signs, and treatment options for common disease syndromes involving Mycoplasma spp. in small ruminants.     

Strongyle infections of small ruminants in Nigeria

A survey of strongyle infections was conducted in sheep and goats reared in a traditional e extensive husbandry system in two ecological zones if Nigeria. One zone had a seasonal pattern of infection. The majority of animals had faecal worm parasite egg counts of below 500 eggs per gram. Kids, and lambs younger than 3 months did not carry strongyle worm burdens, and the highest infection rate was found in the 7–12 month age group. A high proportion of small ruminants shed strongyle eggs during the postparturient period.The helminth species found by the use of larval culture techniques on the faeces were: Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus colubriformis and Oesophagostonum columbianum. Adults of the same species were found in the few animals necropsied. The significance of the findings is discussed.     

Ectoparasites of cattle and small ruminants.

Arthropod ectoparasites are the most ubiquitous life forms affecting ruminant animals and commonly affect the daily activity and health status of ruminants. This article describes the phenology of several important ectoparasites of livestock and small ruminants, and delineates some general control and management strategies for protecting domestic ruminants.     

Survey of tick infestation in small ruminants of Miesso district,West Harergie,Oromia Region,Ethiopia

A survey was conducted to identify tick species and determine the prevalence of tick infestation in small ruminants of Miesso District, West Harergie Zone. Collection and identification of the ticks were undertaken from November 2007 to April 2008. All visible individual adult ticks were collected from the body of 328 goats and 40 sheep. The prevalence of tick infestation in goats and sheep was found to be 89.9% and 87.5%, respectively. In this study, ten species of ticks which grouped under four genera were identified. The most abundant species found in this study were Boophilus decoloratus (60%), Rhipicephalus pulchellus (25.1%), and Amblyomma gemma (11%). Hyalomma dromedarii was the minor species observed on goats. The difference in the prevalence of tick infestation between sheep and goats was not statistically significant (Χ ²   = 0.22, p = 0.63) but found to be statistically significant between male and females (Χ ²  = 9.8, p = 0.003). Attention should be given to the control and prevention of ticks, since they cause sever damage to the skins of small ruminants and thereby reduce the foreign exchange of the country; they also transmit some diseases which can cause sever loss to the productivity of these animals.