Risk Factors Associated with Occurrence of Thermophilic Campylobacter in Cattle Herds Raised onIntegrated Small-Scale Farms in Kajiado County, Kenya | [International Journal of Veterinary Science • 2023]

Author(s):

1. Daniel W. Wanja: University of Nairobi, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Kangemi, Nairobi, Kenya; Animal Health and Industry Training Institute (AHITI) Kabete Kangemi, Nairobi, Kenya Department of Animal Science, Chuka University, P.O Box 109-00625 Chuka, Kenya

2. Paul G. Mbuthia: Department of Veterinary Pathology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Kangemi, Nairobi,Kenya

3. Lilly C. Bebora: Department of Veterinary Pathology, Microbiology and Parasitology,Kangemi, Nairobi,Kenya

4. Gabriel O. Aboge: Department of Public Health,Pharmacology and Toxicology, Kangemi, Nairobi,Kenya

5. Daniel W. Muasya: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department Clinical Studies Kangemi, Nairobi,Kenya

6. Robert Ofwete: Kenyatta National Hospital Nairobi ,Kenya

Abstract:

Integrated farms are small-holder farms that rear a mixture of different food animals in close proximity. Subsequently, a survey was carried out to establish two aspects: (1) occurrence rate of thermophilic Campylobacter in cattle in 55 integrated small-scale farms within Kajiado County; a total of 265 cattle rectal swabs were randomly collected for bacterial isolation, and (2) factors associated with Campylobacter occurrence; these included administration of pre-tested questionnaires, to collect data on respective farm characteristics and management practices, and isolation of Campylobacter from respective water and chicken cloacal swabs (as possible sources of infection). The collected rectal/cloacal swabs and water samples were specifically processed for Campylobacter isolation, followed by confirmation using a singleplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, while the questionnaire data was analyzed using logistic regression models. Campylobacters in cattle were detected in 72.7% (95% confidence interval (95%CI) =60.984.5) of the surveyed farms. The farm/herd level Campylobacter positivity ranged from 12.5% to 100%; 27.3% (95%CI=15.5-39.1) of the surveyed farms were Campylobacter negative. Of the Campylobacter positive farms, the mean prevalence was 48.14%, with a median of 50%. Farm stocking dairy breeds [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=12.7, 95%CI: 3.2-60], presence of companion animals in farms that did not co-graze cattle with other ruminants (AOR=10, 95%CI=1.2-95.9), Campylobacter positivity in chicken (AOR=5.8, 95%CI=2.2-16.2), presence of donkey (AOR=5.0, 95%CI=1.1-27.4), presence of pigs (AOR=4.9, 95%CI=1.2-23.5), and minimal hygiene of the housing unit (AOR=3.3, 95%CI=0.9-12.6) were associated with Campylobacter carriage in cattle. Keeping chicken and other birds irrespective of their Campylobacter status appeared to have a “protective” effect (AOR=0.2, 95%CI=0.03-0.6), against Campylobacter positivity in cattle. This suggests a complex web of transmission pathways of campylobacters in cattle and the environment. Interventions targeting these factors coupled with stringent biosecurity and sanitary measures are recommended so as to minimize the risk of Campylobacter transmission and/or occurrence in cattle environment.

Page(s): 776-785

DOI: 10.47278/journal.ijvs/2023.040

Published: Journal: International Journal of Veterinary Science, Volume: 12, Issue: 6, Year: 2023

Keywords:

Risk factors , Biosecurity , management practices , Thermophilic Campylobacter

References:

References are not available for this document.

Citations

Citations are not available for this document.

Citations

Downloads

Views