Un-Diagnosed Cattle / Camel Disease / North Africa

Not saying but,......

UNDIAGNOSED DISEASE AND DEATH, CAMELS - MAURITANIA: REQUEST FOR


INFORMATION

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A ProMED-mail post



ProMED-mail is a program of the

International Society for Infectious Diseases





Date: Tue 2 Aug 2011

Source: C.R.I.De.M (Carrefour de la Republique Islamique de

Mauritanie)[French, transl., summarised, edited]







A serious threat to camels in Mauritania

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A serious threat hangs over camels in Mauritania, with farmers calling

for urgent measures combining efforts of national and international

partners. "This is to identify the disease that kills camels, to

prescribe the treatment needed and to apply control measures to

prevent its spread," said Mohamed Lemine, a camel breeder. The

measures are essential to maintain the camel population -- a main

resource of the country for its milk and meat, in addition to its use

in transportation and its striking adaptability to the ecosystem.



Camels have died in recent weeks in several regions of Mauritania:

Guidimgha, Brakna, Gorgol and Trarza. In all cases, the animals had

internal bleeding and respiratory infection, it seems, having wasted

away suddenly presented with bleeding mouth and nose and swelling in

the skull.



The new death toll came after that of winter 2010 in Adrar, which was

caused by Rift valley fever (RVF). Ranchers whose livestock is

currently being affected wondered if the death of camels is caused by

RVF. As they say, camels may well have carried the virus of the Adrar

during their transhumance cycle.



But a vet who examined camels in Trarza suspected pasteurellosis. Is

this an appropriate diagnosis? This is not known at this time.

Pasteurellose is a fatal disease in camels.



"I invited a veterinarian who vaccinated the herd; 2 days later, my

flock is dead," said Mohamed Lemine. He added: "My case has

discouraged farmers from vaccinating their herds. They want reliable

diagnosis to be carried out, preferably in Europe, because they think

the disease has not actually been identified."



Livestock contributes 80 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP)

of the agricultural sector in Mauritania, which includes 1 320 000

cattle, 1 140 000 goats and 10 332 000 sheep.



The Southeast is considered the main breeding area, followed by the

Southwest border of Senegal. In these 2 areas the animals were already

beginning to suffer and to show serious signs of weakness, many

already dead due to lack of pasture consecutive late rains.



If an outbreak of pasteurellosis is added to the environmental

difficulties, the prospects for Mauritanian herders are grim.



--

Communicated by:

Sabine Zentis

Castleview English Longhorns

Gut Laach

D-52385 Nideggen, Germany

cvlonghorns@aol.com



[Diagnosis of the suspected disease is indeed essential and urgent. If

RVF is to be considered, its main victims are expected to be small

ruminants and cattle, though camels may be affected as well. Is that

the case? Obviously, RVF would have serious public health aspects as

well. - Mod.AS]



[The interactive HealthMap/ProMED map for Mauritania is available at:

- CopyEd.EJP]



[see also:

2010

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Rift Valley fever, livestock - Mauritania (02): OIE 20101219.4478

Rift Valley fever, livestock, human - Mauritania 20101202.4332

2003

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Rift Valley Fever - Mauritania: OIE 20031020.2635]

.................................................arn/ejp/jw

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