Serological profiles for east coast fever (ECF) infection using ELISA for Theileria parva and its relation to clinical findings and airy management in Southwest Uganda.

In an attempt to relate the serological results of a recently developed ELISA for Theileria parva to clinical findings and current management practices a longitudinal study was carried out between June 1996 and June 1997 in dairy calves from 20 randomly chosen farms in Rukungiri district (SW Uganda). All farms were investigated at fortnightly intervals. The study population consisted of all calves up to 10 months present at the first visit, and all new-borns totalling 238 Friesian cross-bred and 43 indigenous (Ankole) calves, Blood samples to determine the antibody prevalence for East Coast Fewer (ECF) were taken monthly and subjected to an ELISA using Theileria parva p 85 (PIM) antigen with 15 percent positivity (PP) as cut-off point. Additionally, blood and lymph node;smears for Giemsa staining to confirm clinical cases of Theilei in parva were taken from all apparently ECF sick calves. Serological profiles were established and presented graphically for comparing the effect of age, vector presence (Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks) and grazing management. When relating the ELISA results to the clinical outcome it was shown that the majority (78%) of calves with clinical ECF were ELISA negative before the disease occurred. In chronic cases of ECF (n = 3) no antibodies were found until the calf recovered. However, after recovery in 9 of 10 clinically sick calves the antibodies persisted for at least 4 month. In confirmed ECF cases with fatal outcome (n = 3) no immune response could be detected. Based on the serological and clinical findings the apparent endemic status on calf herd level is discussed with respect to the management applied.