Anaplasmosis in Uganda. II. Prevalence of bovine anaplasmosis

The prevalence of bovine anaplasmosis was studied in 320 Zebu cattle randomly selected from three regions of Uganda (central; south-western and north-western) using DOT-ELISA; Western immunoblotting; Rapid Card Agglutination Test (RCAT); Capillary Tube Agglutination Test (CAT); Complement Fixation Test (CFT); and parasitological techniques. Dried blood on Whatman filter paper no. 1 was eluated in PBS 0.05pc Tween 20 prior to testing at an initial dilution of 1:25. The incidence of parasitaemia ranged from 25pc in the central region to 35pc in the north-western region and the serological prevalence was lower in the central region and highest in the north-west. Prevalence rates assayed by DOT-ELISA and Western immunoblotting were 1.5-fold greater than those tested with RCAT and 3-fold greater than in CAT. The overall prevalence rates by DOT-ELISA and Western immunoblotting compared favourably with CFT data. The present data utilizing dried blood on filter papers indicate that there is a high prevalence of anaplasmosis in those regions of Uganda surveyed and it confirms our observations and those of others that collecting blood on filter papers is a suitable technique for large-scale screening and for seroepidemiological studies

Anaplasmosis in Uganda. I. Use of dried blood on filter paper and serum samples for serodiagnosis of anaplasmosis--a comparative study

The suitability of blood collected on filter papers in comparison with corresponding conventional serum samples in the diagnosis of bovine anaplasmosis was studied using the Complement Fixation Test (CFT); DOT-ELISA; Western immunoblot and Rapid Card Agglutination Test (RCAT). Dried blood on Whatman filter paper no. 1 was eluted in 1.8 ml of PBS 0.05pc Tween 20 given an initial dilution of 1:100. The reactivity in both DOT-ELISA and Western immunoblotting was similar to that obtained with the sera diluted 1:100. Filter paper samples gave lower reactivity in all the tests as compared with corresponding serum samples. There was no significant difference in the reactivity between the eluates from filter papers stored at room temperature and those stored at 4 degrees C. Storage at room temperature did not significantly affect reactivity for up to 6 months. Eluates from filter papers stored for 6 months at room temperature continued to give similar reactivity to those from freshly prepared filter papers in both DOT-ELISA and Western blot; and in the Rapid Card Agglutination Test. It is concluded that collecting blood on filter papers is a suitable technique for large-scale screening and for seroepidemiological studies on anaplasmosis; and offers many advantages especially in developing countries where transport and cold chain facilities are a major constraint

Anaplasmosis in Uganda. I. Use of dried blood on filter papers and serum samples for serodiagnosis of anaplasmosis--a comparative study

The suitability of blood collected on filter papers in comparison with corresponding conventional serum samples in the diagnosis of bovine anaplasmosis was studied using the complement fixation test; DOT-ELISA; Western immunoblot and rapid card agglutination test. Dried blood on Whatman filter paper no. 1 was eluted in PBS 0.05pc Tween 20 giving an initial dilution of 1:10. The reactivity of the eluted samples in both DOT-ELISA and Western immunoblotting were similar to those obtained with the corresponding straight serum sample dilutions. Filter paper samples gave lower reactivity in the remaining tests when compared with corresponding serum samples. There was no significant difference in the reactivity between the eluates from filter papers stored at temperatures ranging between 15.5 and 24 degrees C and those kept refrigerated. Storage at 15.5 to 24 degrees C did not significantly affect reactivity for up to six months. Eluates from filter papers stored for six months at 15.5 to 24 degrees C continued to give similar reactivity as those from freshly prepared filter papers in both DOT-ELISA and Western blot; and in the rapid card agglutination test. It is concluded that collecting blood on filter papers is a suitable technique for large scale seroepidemiological studies on anaplasmosis and offers many advantages in developing countries where transport and cold chain facilities are a major constraint

Anaplasmosis in Uganda. III. Parasitological and serological evidence of Anaplasma infection in Ugandan goats

Randomly selected goat sera from north-western; central; and south-western regions of Uganda were analyzed parasitologically and serologically for evidence of anaplasmosis. Prevalence rates of 3.2pc by parasitemia; 4.8pc by card-agglutination test; and 12.9pc by DOT-ELISA combined with western blotting were established. Parasitologically positive samples were consistently serologically positive. Positive samples were all from either the north-western or south-western regions of the country. Goats in these regions graze with cattle and are presumable exposed to the same tick species. There was no evidence of clinical caprine anaplasmosis; whereas bovine anaplasmosis cases are very common. Rhipicephalus evertsi was frequently observed on goats which cograze with cattle

Anaplasmosis in Uganda. II. Prevalence of bovine anaplasmosis in Uganda

The prevalence of bovine anaplasmosis was studied in 320 Zebu cattle randomly selected from three regions of Uganda: (Central; Southwestern and Northwestern) using dot-ELISA; Western immunoblotting; rapid card agglutination test (RCAT); capillary tube agglutination test (CAT); complement fixation test (CFT); and parasitological techniques. Dreid blood on Whatman filter paper No.1 was eluted in PBS 0.0Tween 20 prior to testing at an initial dilution of 1:25. The prevalences of parasitaemia were 25in the central region; 28in the southwestern region; and 35in the northwestern region; and the serological prevalence was lowest in the central and highest in the northwest. Overall; prevalence rates obtained by dot-ELISA (61.9) and Western immunoblotting (62.5) were 1.5 times those obtained by RCAT (41) and three times those obtained by CAT (22.5). The overall prevalence rates obtained by dot-ELISA and Western immunoblotting compared favourably with the CFT data. The present data utilizing dried blood on filter papers indicate that there is a high prevalence of anaplasmosis in those regions of Uganda surveyed; and confirm our observations and those of others that collecting blood on filter papers is a suitable technique for large scale screening and for seroepidemiological studies

Anaplasmosis in Uganda. II. Prevalence of bovine anaplasmosis in Uganda

The prevalence of bovine anaplasmosis was studied in 320 Zebu cattle randomly selected from three regions of Uganda: (Central; Southwestern and Northwestern) using dot-ELISA; Western immunoblotting; rapid card agglutination test (RCAT); capillary tube agglutination test (CAT); complement fixation test (CFT); and parasitological techniques. Dried blood on Whatman filter paper No. 1 was eluted in PBS 0.05pc Tween 20 prior to testing at an initial dilution of 1:25. The prevalences of parasitaemia were 25pc in the central region; 28pc in the southwestern region; and 35pc in the northwestern region; and the serological prevalence was lowest in the central region and highest in the northwest. Overall; prevalence rates obtained by dot-ELISA (61.9pc) and Western immunoblotting (62.5pc) were 1.5 times those obtained by RCAT (41pc) and three times those obtained by CAT (22.5pc). The overall prevalence rates obtained by dot-ELISA and Western immunoblotting compared favourably with the CFT data. The present data utilizing dried blood on filter papers indicate that there is a high prevalence of anaplasmosis in those regions of Uganda surveyed; and confirm our observations and those of others that collecting blood on filter papers is a suitable technique for large scale screening and for seroepidemiological studies

Therapeutic value of partial excision of lesions combined with administration of an autogenous vaccine during an episode of cutaneous papillomatosis in cattle of Uganda

The therapeutic value of partial excision of lesions combined with administration of an autogenous vaccine in calves during an episode of cutaneous papillomatosis was evaluated. Of 10 Holstein calves naturally infected with cutaneous papillomatosis; 5 were given 20 ml of autogenous vaccine in addition to undergoing partial excision of the lesions; the other 5 calves were not given vaccine. Results indicate that partial excision combined with administration of autogenous vaccine has some therapeutic value in calves with small pedunculated papillomas; but not in calves with large confluent lesions