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The epidemiology of malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) and contribution to cattle losses in farms around Rhodes Matopos National Park, Zimbabwe

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Abstract

Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is a fatal viral disease of cattle prevalent in farms bordering wildlife conservancies and national parks where cattle and wildebeests cohabit. The behaviour of the diseases and its related contribution to cattle mortalities has been poorly studied in the smallholder sector. A study was therefore conducted to established trends of occurrence and contribution to animal losses in 97 smallholder farms and eight commercial farms bordering Rhodes Matopos National Park (RMNP). A structured questionnaire and secondary records were used to gather the data in the smallholder and commercial farms, respectively. In the smallholder sector, cattle farmers from three villages were chosen as respondents in a survey to provide information on the impact and extent of losses in their cattle herds. Epidemiological data from January 2006 to April 2014 was extracted from farm records from two Matopos Research Institute farms. A seasonal pattern in MCF occurrence was observed. Most cattle mortalities were recorded during summer (February to May), with highest mortalities recorded from March to April. Sporadic cases were however recorded in October and November in year 2007, 2010, and 2012. The study further revealed that MCF caused 71 and 21 % of cattle mortalities in the commercial and smallholder sector, respectively. Deferred grazing of wildebeest hotspots by restriction of cattle movement during summer or November to April period avoids wildebeest-cattle contact. This can alleviate cattle mortalities due to MCF.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the support from the Matopo Research institute and Department of Animal science and Rangeland Management, Lupane State University. We also would like to thank the Matopo Research Institute AHMC and the livestock farmers in the study area.

Conflict of interest

Authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal science and Rangeland Management, Lupane State University, P.O. Box AC 255, Ascot, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

    Dedani Mlilo, Mlamuleli Mhlanga & Boat Sibanda

  2. Matopos Research Institute, P.O. Box K 5137, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

    Dedani Mlilo, Richard Mwembe & Givious Sisito

  3. Department of Agribusiness, Faculty of Science and Technology, Solusi University, P. O Solusi, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

    Busani Moyo

Authors
  1. Dedani Mlilo
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  2. Mlamuleli Mhlanga
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  3. Richard Mwembe
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  4. Givious Sisito
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  5. Busani Moyo
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  6. Boat Sibanda
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Correspondence to Busani Moyo.

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Mlilo, D., Mhlanga, M., Mwembe, R. et al. The epidemiology of malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) and contribution to cattle losses in farms around Rhodes Matopos National Park, Zimbabwe. Trop Anim Health Prod 47, 989–994 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-015-0821-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-015-0821-8

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