Immunization of cattle against East Coast fever using Theileria parva (Marikebuni) and relaxation of tick control in North Rift, Kenya

Abstract

A total of 90 animals was Immunized against East Coast fever (ECF) using Theileria parva (Marlkebuni) stock on three large-scale farms In Kimininl Division, Trans-Nzola District, North Rift, Kenya. Another 90 cattle served as non-immunized controls. Following immunization the number of cattle with significant indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) titres increased from 43.9 % to 84.4 % and 6.7 % of the cattle developed clinical ECF reactions. Two months after immunization, the immunized and non-Immunized cattle were divided into two groups one of which was dipped every 3 weeks and the other dipped when total full body tick counts reached 100. All the animals were monitored for 51 weeks for incidences of ECF and other tick-borne diseases. Twenty-four cases of ECF were diagnosed among the non-Immunized cattle compared to four cases among the immunized cattle; a difference that was significant (P> 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidences of babesiosis and anaplasmosis between the immunized and non-immunized cattle.