The South African national animal health authorities have warned farmers in the neighbouring country about the reported outbreak of the January Disease in Zimbabwe saying the sickness could also affect their livestock.
Some parts of the country including Matabeleland South province have recorded cases of January Disease, which is also known as Theileriosis.
The South African director for animal health, Mpho Maja, in a communication to provincial veterinary services departments, indicated that they had confirmed the outbreak of the disease in Zimbabwe and were assessing the potential risks in their country.
Maja said precautionary measures they took indicated no outbreak of the East Coast Fever or January Disease caused by cattle-adapted strains of Theileria parva, have occurred in SA since 1950s.
“The Zimbabwe Veterinary Services have confirmed outbreaks of Theileriosis caused mainly by the cattle adapted Theileria parva (January Disease) across the country.
“This letter serves as early warning of the potential threat that this poses to South Africa and the measures required in mitigating this risk.
“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).”
She said all types of Theileria parva were controlled diseases in South Africa and any suspicion of the disease must be reported to the State veterinarian as soon as possible for further investigation and sample submission.
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“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 SA 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 illegal importation of cattle, or inadvertent introduction of infected ticks via people, hay, hides or cars crossing the border into SA, may still pose a risk.”
Maja said 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,” she said.
Maja said 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 the history of the case.
She encouraged farmers to practise strict bio-security measures to reduce the risk of all animal diseases, including not introducing animals of unknown health status into their herds.
Maja said regular treatment of cattle to reduce tick loads was strongly advised as a measure to reduce exposure to the vectors of many tick-borne diseases, including Theileria, while the involvement of professionals is encouraged to combat the risks of acaricide resistance.
