Shabani Kiyabo Motto
NM-AIST, Tanzania
Title: Prevalence of leptospira serovar hardjo and epidemiological modelling of infections in smallholder dairy cattle in the northern and southern highland of Tanzania
Biography
Biography: Shabani Kiyabo Motto
Abstract
Problem Statement: Leptospirosis causes a serious fever and abortion in humans and the dairy industry respectively. Small Holder Dairy Farmers (SHDF) are among the group ranked at higher risk of contracting leptospirosis during milking, feeding, cleaning animal waste, disposing of aborted or placental materials. In recent years, the Northern and Southern Highland Zones of Tanzania become the foremost raising dairy cattle and milk-producing core areas. Despite many studies that have reported leptospirosis in various hosts yet the epidemiology of leptospirosis in dairy cattle especially in SHDF is not well studied. We conducted this study to explore the epidemiology of leptospirosis in small holder dairy cattle.
Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study among small holder dairy cattle in Tanzania. Only 2045 dairy cattle were sampled for serological testing. We further interviewed farmers to get epidemiological information for predictive risk factors. The sera were tested for antibodies against leptospira hardjo serovars
Results: 13.1% of total animals showed seropositive and higher seropositive showed in Iringa 32.02% and Tanga 18.93% region. Considering multivariate analysis, animal age (OR=1.292, 1.124-1.485, 95% CI), herds size (OR=1.425, 1.215-1.671, 95% CI) were statistically significant to leptospirosis in cattle and the years of experience farmers in managing animals (OR=1.194, 1.407-1.407, 95% CI). Keeping dairy cattle in Iringa and Tanga regions likely in a position of animal fond with leptospirosis at (OR=4.267, 1.72-10.573, 95% CI) and (OR=2.205, 0.968-5.022, 95% CI) respectively.
Conclusion: The consequences of leptospirosis may be higher as the disease continues spreading and it is likely to cross to dairy farmers. As the test method used is limited to one serovar detection, it is important to typify the most common serovars circulating in cattle for appropriate vaccine of use to reduce risks.