East Coast Fever is a highly contagious and often fatal disease that primarily affects cattle in East Africa. It is caused by a parasite known as Theileria parva, which is transmitted to cattle through the bite of infected ticks of the species Rhipicephalus appendiculatus.
The disease is prevalent in regions with warm climates and high humidity, making the East Coast of Africa an ideal breeding ground for the ticks that carry this parasite. East Coast Fever primarily affects cattle, but can also infect other ruminant animals such as buffalo, wildebeest, and sheep.
Once infected, cattle typically display a range of symptoms including high fever, anemia, characteristic enlargement of lymph nodes, respiratory distress, and eventual death in severe cases. East Coast Fever is known for its high mortality rate, with death occurring within 3 to 4 weeks after the onset of symptoms.
Prevention and control of East Coast Fever mainly rely on tick control measures such as acaricide treatments, pasture management, and breeding for tick resistance. Vaccination is also available to mitigate the disease, which involves injecting live parasites into non-infected cattle to stimulate immunity without causing severe illness. However, the vaccine is not without limitations, and its use is limited to specific regions due to the complexity of immunization protocols and the genetic diversity of the parasite.
In summary, East Coast Fever is a deadly cattle disease caused by the Theileria parva parasite and transmitted through infected ticks. It poses significant economic implications in affected regions due to the high mortality rates and impact on livestock productivity.
