IMMUNISATION AGAINST EAST COAST FEVER IN CATTLE: THE COST BENEFITS

Description

East Cover is a devasting tick borne disease of cattle found from southern Sudan to South Africa, theeasternpart of the Democratic Republic of Congo and most of East Africa. This is also the geographical area to which the tick vector (Rhipicephalus appendiculatus) is confined.
It is the most economically important disease of livestock in East and Central Africa. The disease puts the lives of more than 35 million cattle at risk in the 11 countries of sub-Saharan Africa where it is endemic. While decimating herds of indigenous cattle, East Coast fever is an even greater threat to improved exotic cattle breeds and is therefore limiting the development of livestock enterprises, particularly dairy, which often depend on higher milk-yielding crossbred cattle.
Although an effective vaccine has been in existence for a long time, its uptake has been very limited due to safety and cost concerns. The book highlights a field trial undertaken to demonstrate the efficacy, safety and the economic benefits of vaccinating against the disease.