Thumbi S.M., Bronsvoort B.M.D.C., Poole E.J., Kiara H., Toye P.G., Mbole-Kariuki M.N., Conradie I., Jennings A., Handel I.G., Coetzer J.A.W., Steyl J.C.A., Hanotte O., Woolhouse M.E.J.
Centre for Immunology, Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, United Kingdom; International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; School of Life Science, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom; Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa; Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa; Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States; KEMRI/CDC Research and Public Health Collaboration, Kisumu, Kenya
Thumbi, S.M., Centre for Immunology, Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States, KEMRI/CDC Research and Public Health Collaboration, Kisumu, Kenya; Bronsvoort, B.M.D.C., Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, United Kingdom; Poole, E.J., International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Kiara, H., International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Toye, P.G., International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Mbole-Kariuki, M.N., International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya; Conradie, I., Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa; Jennings, A., Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, United Kingdom; Handel, I.G., Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, United Kingdom; Coetzer, J.A.W., Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa; Steyl, J.C.A., Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa; Hanotte, O., School of Life Science, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, United Kingdom; Woolhouse, M.E.J., Centre for Immunology, Infection and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
In natural populations, individuals may be infected with multiple distinct pathogens at a time. These pathogens may act independently or interact with each other and the host through various mechanisms, with resultant varying outcomes on host health and survival. To study effects of pathogens and their interactions on host survival, we followed 548 zebu cattle during their first year of life, determining their infection and clinical status every 5 weeks. Using a combination of clinical signs observed before death, laboratory diagnostic test results, gross-lesions on post-mortem examination, histo-pathology results and survival analysis statistical techniques, cause-specific aetiology for each death case were determined, and effect of co-infections in observed mortality patterns. East Coast fever (ECF) caused by protozoan parasite Theileria parva and haemonchosis were the most important diseases associated with calf mortality, together accounting for over half (52%) of all deaths due to infectious diseases. Co-infection with Trypanosoma species increased the hazard for ECF death by 6 times (1.4-25; 95% CI). In addition, the hazard for ECF death was increased in the presence of Strongyle eggs, and this was burden dependent. An increase by 1000 Strongyle eggs per gram of faeces count was associated with a 1.5 times (1.4-1.6; 95% CI) increase in the hazard for ECF mortality. Deaths due to haemonchosis were burden dependent, with a 70% increase in hazard for death for every increase in strongyle eggs per gram count of 1000. These findings have important implications for disease control strategies, suggesting a need to consider co-infections in epidemiological studies as opposed to single-pathogen focus, and benefits of an integrated approach to helminths and East Coast fever disease control. © 2014 Thumbi et al.