A cross-sectional seroprevalence study was conducted on cattle in the North and Adamawa Regions of Cameroon to investigate the status of bovine brucellosis and identify potential risk factors. The diagnosis was carried out using the Rose Bengal Plate test (RBPT) and indirect ELISA (i-ELISA), while questionnaires were used to evaluate risk factors for bovine brucellosis in cattle. The Bayesian approach was used to evaluate the diagnostic tests' sensitivity and specificity. The overall individual level (n = 1031) and herd level (n = 82) seroprevalence were 5.4% (0.4–10.5) and 25.6% (16.2–35.0), respectively. Bayesian analysis revealed sensitivity of 58.3% (26.4–92.7) and 89.6% (80.4–99.4) and specificity of 92.1% (88.7–95.2) and 95.7% (91.1–99.7) for RBPT and i-ELISA, respectively. Management related factors such as region, locality, herd size, and knowledge of brucellosis and animal related factors such as sex and age were significantly associated with seropositivity of brucellosis. Zoonotic brucellosis is a neglected disease in Cameroon. The study highlights the need for control measures and the need to raise public awareness of the zoonotic occurrence and transmission of bovine brucellosis in the country. An integrated disease control strategy mimicking the one health approach involving medical personnel, veterinarians, related stakeholders, and affected communities cannot be overemphasized.

Abstract:A study was carried out in two villages and one marketplace of the Batibo subdivision in North-West Cameroon to determine the prevalence of porcine cysticercosis. The results showed that 4.44% of 383 pigs were positive at tongue examination whereas ELISA detected circulating antigens in 27.7% of 271 pig sera. A questionnaire survey in 140 pig raising households indicated that 59.3% of them lacked latrines while in 75.7% of the households members defecated directly into pigpens. The seroprevalence of porcine cysticercosis was significantly higher in households without latrines than in those with latrines. Similarly, significantly more seropositive pigs were present in households that defecated in the pig pens (35.5%) than in those that did not (14.4%). Although 91.4% of pig raising households did know of pig cysticercosis, only 28.6% were aware of the link with human taeniasis and only 10.7% were aware of human cysticercosis.

Une étude menée de mai à octobre 1999 dans le département du Mayo- Danay (extrême nord du Cameroun) et dans la préfecture du Mayo-Kebbi (sud-ouest du Tchad) a eu pour but de déterminer la prévalence de la cysticercose porcine et d’identifier les principaux facteurs qui la favorisaient. Elle a montré que les conditions hygiéniques dans lesquelles vivait la population ainsi que celles de l’élevage des porcs étaient très médiocres, avec pour conséquence des infestations massives de la population porcine par des cysticerques de Taenia solium. En effet, 42 p. 100 des 126 exploitations visitées étaient dépourvues de latrines et les porcs, en divagation permanente ou semi-permanente, avaient facilement accès aux matières fécales humaines déposées aux alentours des habitations. Le diagnostic clinique effectué par la méthode du langueyage a montré que 20,5 p. 100 des 852 porcs vivants examinés étaient porteurs de cysticerques. L’inspection des carcasses réalisée dans les abattoirs locaux a révélé que 15,7 p. 100 des 51 porcs abattus étaient ladres. Parmi les 264 sérums de porcs soumis au test Elisa pour la détection des antigènes circulants de cysticerques, 105 (39,8 p. 100) se sont révélés positifs. Ces résultats ont indiqué que le Mayo-Danay et le Mayo-Kebbi étaient d’importants foyers de la cysticercose porcine à Taenia solium.

No abstract

Aim:The aim of the study was to assess the effect of udder morphological characteristics on milk yield in zebu cows of Cameroon.Materials and Methods:The diameter and height of the udder, length and diameter of the teat, and the milk yield were measured in 29 Djafun (Red Mbororo) and 19 Aku (White Fulani) cows in Louggueré zootechnical station in the North region of Cameroon.Results:Overall, strong positive correlation (rp=0.60) between the diameter (240.21±28.58 mm) and height (131.12±23.64 mm) of udders (p<0.001) and between length (39.51±6.44 mm) and diameter (19.85±3.08 mm) of teats (rp=0.78) were found in the zebu cows. Udder morphologic characteristics varied significantly (p<0.005) according to breed, lactation stage and parity, and height at whiters. There was significant (p<0.001) correlations between udder diameter (rp=0.541) and height (rp=0.549) with milk yield.Conclusion:This study ascertained udder morphological characteristics values in local zebu cows, and showed that udder size is strong and positively correlated to milk yield. The findings are useful in genetic improvement programs of zebu cows.

A partir d’août 2002 jusqu’à juillet 2003, une enquête sérologique a été conduite à l’abattoir de Dschang (Ouest Cameroun) afin de déterminer la prévalence de la brucellose bovine. Huit cent quarante sérums bovins ont été examinés par l’Elisa indirect (iElisa) et le test au rose bengale (TRB). La séroprévalence de la brucellose a été de 9,64 et 4,88 p. 100 en utilisant respectivement l’iElisa et le TRB. Quatre-vingt et un sérums positifs avec iElisa et 50 sérums sélectionnés aléatoirement parmi les sérums qui ont été négatifs en iElisa et TRB ont été examinés par le test de fixation du complément (TFC) et le test d’agglutination lente de Wright avec Edta (SAW-Edta). Tous les échantillons négatifs en TRB/iElisa ont été confirmés comme étant négatifs par les autres tests, suggérant que le TRB et l’iElisa montraient une haute spécificité dans la population testée. Parmi les sérums iElisa positifs, 37,8 p. 100 ont été classés positifs par SAW-Edta, TRB et TFC, 39,2 p. 100 ont été classés négatifs par SAW-Edta, TRB et TFC, et 23,0 p. 100 ont été classés positifs dans un ou deux des trois tests de confirmation. Etant donné le manque de sensibilité des tests de confirmation, en particulier lors d’infections chroniques dans des systèmes d’élevage extensifs (pastoralisme), la meilleure estimation de la prévalence réelle de la brucellose a été basée sur les résultats en iElisa et a été de l’ordre de 10 p. 100.

In order to assess socio-economic characteristics of cattle breeders and their effect on farmers' practices, a survey was carried out in Vina division within the Adamawa highlands of Cameroon, from November, 2009 to October, 2010. Data were collected from 159 farmers in 9 localities, using a structured questionnaire. Information on breeder's ethnic group, age, marital status, education level, number of children, reasons for rearing cattle, labor distribution, herd size and composition, feeding and reproductive practices were obtained. Many (64.8%) cattle breeders were from the Peulh and Mbororo ethnic groups. More than 59% of the farmers were between 26 and 45 years old. The educational level was mostly primary and coranic. Wealth accumulation and social status were the main reasons for cattle breeding. The reasons for keeping cattle varied with ethnic group, age and educational level of farmers. Herd size ranged from 50 to 250 cattle. Health activities were carried out by herd owners. The Gudali zebu (48%) was the most common breed. More than 90% of cattle owners responded to practice feed supplementation with salt, cotton seed cake and cereal bran. Farmer's education level had an effect on supplementation practices. There was no significant difference (Z = 0.29) between the ability to detect estrus or not of cattle breeders. Free mating was the common breeding practice. Udder and abdomen development were the main criteria for pregnancy diagnosis.

Intradermal tuberculin test (TST) is the choice method for diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis (Tb) in live animals. This work was done to assess the performance of single intradermal comparative cervical tuberculin (SICCT) test in randomly selected cattle in Maroua, Cameroon, against detection of Tb lesions and detection of Tb lesions plus acid fast bacilli in lesions. While 22.28% of slaughtered cattle presented Tb lesions at meat inspection, detection rates of anti-bovine-Tb antibody, Tb lesions, and Tb lesions plus acid fast bacilli were 68.57%, 32.95%, and 22.35%, respectively. SICCT-bovine-Tb positive cattle were 35.29%, 29.41%, 25.88%, 24.7%, and 21.18% at ≥2 mm, ≥2.5 mm, ≥3 mm, ≥3.5 mm, and ≥4 mm cut-offs, respectively. Higher sensitivity and predictive values were obtained at severe interpretations. The best performance was at ≥3 mm and ≥3.5 mm cut-offs. Against detection of Tb lesions, ≥3 mm and ≥3.5 mm showed sensitivity of 67.8% and specificity of 94.7% and 96.5%, respectively. For detection of Tb lesions accompanied with acid fast bacilli in lesions, ≥3 mm and ≥3.5 mm showed sensitivity of 89.4% and specificity of 92.4% and 93.9%, respectively. These findings revealed that interpretations of SICCT-bovine-Tb should be at ≥3 mm and/or ≥3.5 mm cut-offs. Severe interpretation of TST is essential for optimal diagnosis of bovine Tb in cattle in Maroua, Cameroon.