East Coast fever

This article is about theileriosis caused by Theileria parva in cattle. For diseases caused by other Theileria species, see Theileriosis (disambiguation).
Kinete stage of Theileria parva in the transmitting tick Rhipicephalus appendiculatus
Brisket Edema
Brisket edema in theileriosis

East Coast fever, also known as theileriosis, is a disease of cattle which occurs in Africa and is caused by the protozoan parasite Theileria parva. The primary vector which spreads T. parva between cattle is a tick, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus.[1] East Coast fever is of major economic importance to livestock farmers in Africa,[2] killing at least one million cattle each year.[3] The disease occurs in Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia.[3] In 2003, East Coast fever was introduced to Comoros by cattle imported from Tanzania.[4] It has been eradicated in South Africa.[3]

A more acute form of East Coast fever called corridor disease occurs when buffalo-derived T. parva is transmitted to cattle.[3] Another form, called January disease, only occurs over the winter months in Zimbabwe due to the tick lifecycle.[citation needed]

Native cattle are often resistant to the parasite, but not without symptoms. They are hosts to the parasite, but do not suffer as severely as foreign cattle.[5][6]

  1. ^ Olwoch JM, Reyers B, Engelbrecht FA, Erasmus BF (2008). "Climate change and the tick-borne disease, Theileriosis (East Coast fever) in sub-Saharan Africa". Journal of Arid Environments. 72 (2): 108–20. doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2007.04.003.
  2. ^ "Protecting Africa's cattle with a live vaccine: An East Coast fever impact narrative". ILRI Research Brief. No. 24. International Livestock Research Institute. September 2014. Retrieved 2018-05-06.
  3. ^ a b c d Nene, V; Kiara, H; Lacasta, A; Pelle, R; Svitek, N; Steinaa, L (June 2016). "The biology of Theileria parva and control of East Coast fever - Current status and future trends". Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases. 7 (4): 549–64. doi:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.02.001. PMID 26972687.Open access icon
  4. ^ Gachohi, J; Skilton, R; Hansen, F; Ngumi, P; Kitala, P (7 September 2012). "Epidemiology of East Coast fever (Theileria parva infection) in Kenya: past, present and the future". Parasites & Vectors. 5: 194. doi:10.1186/1756-3305-5-194. PMC 3465218. PMID 22958352.
  5. ^ Norval RA, Perry BD, Young AS (1992). The Epidemiology of Theileriosis in Africa. London: Academic Press. ISBN 978-0-12-521740-8.
  6. ^ International Livestock Research Institute