The Possible Role of the Eland (Taurotragusoryx) in the Epidemiology of East Coast Fever and Other Bovine Theilerioses

Abstract

Rhipicephalus appendiculatus Neum. the normal vector of east coast fever (caused by Theileria parva) in cattle in Kenya is commonly found on eland (Taurotragus oryx), which are subject to theileriasis caused by Cytauxzoon taurotragi and possibly by a species of Theileria also. It is thought that eland may possibly act as a reservoir of T. parva, and an experiment was carried out to determine whether the theilerial piroplasms of eland could be transmitted to cattle. Nymphs of R. appendiculatus and R. simus Koch were fed on the ears of 7 parasitaemic eland, and after the moult to the adult stage, some were dissected and others fed on uninfected cattle. Of those dissected, 1 of 29 adults of R. simus and 8 of 64 of R. appendiculatus had parasites in the salivary glands that appeared indistinguishable from T. parva. The 5 cattle that the ticks fed on, however, did not become infected and were proved to be fully susceptible to T. parva, all dying of typical east coast fever 12-17 days after challenge with that parasite. Serological tests had also proved negative