Cattle farmers alerted about disease outbreak

April 2024

The Zimbabwe veterinary services have confirmed outbreaks of Theileriosisacross the country. This disease is caused mainly by the cattle-adapted theileria parva (January disease).

No outbreaks of East Coast Fever or January Disease, caused by cattle-adapted strains of theileria parva, have occurred in South Africa since the early 1950s. South Africa still remains free of these diseases. The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) issued an early warning of the potential threat that this poses to South Africa, and the measures required to mitigate this risk.

ABOUT THEILERIOSIS 
Theileriosis in cattle may be associated with very high mortalities, especially if an outbreak occurs in previously unexposed animals. 

• The disease is transmitted by brown ear ticks (Rhipicephalus appendiculatus). 
• All types of Theileria parva are controlled diseases in South Africa. Any suspicion of the disease must be reported to the state veterinarian as soon as possible for further investigation and sample submission.
• Due to the breeding cycle of the brown ear tick in the affected areas, the higher rainfall summer months pose the highest risk for disease transmission, which may also place South Africa at a higher risk of incursion between December and May. 

South Africa has not imported any live cattle from Zimbabwe for many years and the import requirements for other risk commodities, including hides, skins and hay, require these commodities to be free of ticks. However, factors such as the illegal importation of cattle, or the inadvertent introduction of infected ticks via people, hay, hides or cars crossing the border into South Africa, may still pose a risk.

HOW TO ACT ON DISEASE SUSPICION
The occurrence of cattle-adapted Theileria parva strains could have severe negative effects on livelihoods and the sustainability of the livestock industry. The management, control and/or eradication of this disease require highly intensive and expensive efforts that are difficult to sustain. Therefore, an early warning and immediate eradication of any incursion, should it occur, is of the utmost importance.

Should there be a disease suspicion, frequent acaricide application must be started immediately (at least three times within two weeks) and the following samples must be collected by an official veterinarian:
(a)    From live animals: Peripheral blood smears, full blood samples in heparin and in EDTA, serum samples.
(b)    From postmortem cases: Peripheral blood smears, impression smears from visceral organs, visceral and lymphoid tissue.

Collected samples must be sent immediately to Onderstepoort Veterinary Laboratory for testing. Samples must be submitted via the state veterinarian and sample submission forms must be completed in full, including full details about the location, reasons for testing and history of the case.

ADVICE FROM THE DALRRD

• The DALRRD encourages everyone to practise strict biosecurity measures to reduce the risk of all animal diseases, including not introducing animals of an unknown health status into their herds. 
• Regular treatment of cattle to reduce tick loads is strongly advised as a measure to reduce exposure to the vectors of many tick-borne diseases, including Theileria spp., while the involvement of professionals is encouraged to combat the risks of acaricide resistance.

Source: Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development

Publication: April 2024

Section: Pula/Imvula