Prevalence of besnoitiosis in domestic ruminants in Kenya: a preliminary survey

A preliminary survey on the prevalence of besnoitiosis in domestic ruminant s in Kenya based on field and farm visits, clinical and post mortem examina tions and histopathological examination of tissues and biopsies, showed tha t goats are the most affected, followed by cattle, while sheep were unaffec ted. Caprine besnoitiosis occurred in a continuous belt in 5 of the 8 provi nces in Kenya stretching from the Coast, Eastern, North Eastern, Nairobi an d the Rift Valley Provinces. Mandera, in the North Eastern Province, had th e highest prevalence rate of 36 %, followed by Kwale (35 %), Isiolo (35 %), Marsabit (33 %), Wajir (28 %), Nairobi (26 %), Meru (24 %), Garissa (21 %) , Taita Taveta (18 %), Embu (17 %), Kitui (9 %), Machakos (7 %), Laikipia ( 3 %), Kajiado (2 %) and Turkana and Elgeyo-Marakwet (1 % each). In all floc ks where the prevalence rates were over 6 %, kids were observed to be affec ted. There were no significant differences (P < 0.05) between the prevalenc e rates in bucks and does (18 % and 18.4 %, respectively), but kids were le ss (4 %) affected. Bovine besnoitiosis,vas found only in the Tana River Dis trict, with an infection rate 11 %.