TY - JOUR

T1 - Prediction of coccidiosis prevalence in extensive backyard chickens in countries and regions of the Horn of Africa

AU - Muñoz-Gómez, Violeta

AU - Furrer, Reinhard

AU - Yin, Jie

AU - Shaw, Alexandra PM

AU - Rasmussen, Philip

AU - Torgerson, Paul R.

N1 - Funding Information: Authors thank GBADs programme for helpful discussions ( https://animalhealthmetrics.org/ ). This research is supported by the Global Burden of Animal Diseases programme through Grant Agreement Investment ID INV-005366 with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office ( FCDO ). Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The Authors

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - Coccidiosis is one of the leading morbidity causes in chickens, causing a reduction of body weight and egg production. Backyard chickens are at risk of developing clinical and subclinical coccidiosis due to outdoor housing and scavenging behaviour, jeopardizing food security in households. The objectives of this study were to estimate clinical prevalence of coccidiosis at country and regional levels in the Horn of Africa in extensive backyard chickens. A binomial random effects model was developed to impute prevalence of coccidiosis. Previously gathered prevalence data (n = 40) in backyard chickens was used to define the model. Precipitation (OR: 1.09 (95% CI: 1.05–1.13) and the presence of seasonal rainfall (OR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.27–2.70) significantly increase prevalence. Results showed an overall prevalence of coccidiosis in the Horn of Africa of 0.21 (95% CI: 0.15–0.29). Ethiopia, the Republic of South Sudan and Kenya showed the highest prevalence and Djibouti the lowest. Significant differences between Djibouti and the countries with highest prevalence were found. However, no evidence of a significant difference between the rest of the countries. Kenya and Ethiopia showed larger prevalence differences between regions. Results could assist with the targeting of testing for coccidiosis, the observation for clinical disease of chickens living in specific regions and as a baseline for the evaluation of future control measures.

AB - Coccidiosis is one of the leading morbidity causes in chickens, causing a reduction of body weight and egg production. Backyard chickens are at risk of developing clinical and subclinical coccidiosis due to outdoor housing and scavenging behaviour, jeopardizing food security in households. The objectives of this study were to estimate clinical prevalence of coccidiosis at country and regional levels in the Horn of Africa in extensive backyard chickens. A binomial random effects model was developed to impute prevalence of coccidiosis. Previously gathered prevalence data (n = 40) in backyard chickens was used to define the model. Precipitation (OR: 1.09 (95% CI: 1.05–1.13) and the presence of seasonal rainfall (OR: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.27–2.70) significantly increase prevalence. Results showed an overall prevalence of coccidiosis in the Horn of Africa of 0.21 (95% CI: 0.15–0.29). Ethiopia, the Republic of South Sudan and Kenya showed the highest prevalence and Djibouti the lowest. Significant differences between Djibouti and the countries with highest prevalence were found. However, no evidence of a significant difference between the rest of the countries. Kenya and Ethiopia showed larger prevalence differences between regions. Results could assist with the targeting of testing for coccidiosis, the observation for clinical disease of chickens living in specific regions and as a baseline for the evaluation of future control measures.

KW - Backyard

KW - Chicken

KW - Climate

KW - Coccidiosis

KW - Horn of Africa

KW - Imputation

U2 - 10.1016/j.vetpar.2024.110143

DO - 10.1016/j.vetpar.2024.110143

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 38325134

AN - SCOPUS:85184504222

VL - 327

JO - Veterinary Parasitology

JF - Veterinary Parasitology

SN - 0304-4017

M1 - 110143

ER -