Swollen Gland Syndromei Haemorluiagic Septicaemia of Camels in Northern Kenya: Indigenous Knowledge and Socio-Economic Implications
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Date
2011-12-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Swollen Gland Syndromei Haemorluiagic Septicaemia of Camel in Northern Kenya: Indigenous Knowledge And Socio-Economic Impllca Tions TIus study describes camel hemorrhagic septicaemia/swollen gland syndrome (HS/SGS) in NOrthem Kenya (Marsabit North, Mandera West and Wajir East Districts), with the objectives of tapping the local knowledge regarding the disease, assessing its socioeconomic implications and attempting to determine its causative agent. The locations of the study and the informants were purposively selected based onconcentration of camel herds during June to September 2011 period. The following participatory methods were used in the data collection: focus group discussion (FGD), semi-structured interviews (SS1), matrix scoring, proportional piling, participatory mapping, seasonal calendars, time lines and pair-wise ranking. Clinical examination and sampling of camels suspected to be suffering from HS/SGS were done. Laboratory analysis of whole blood and lymph node swabs, nasal swabs, pharyngeal swabs and tissue swabs was also carried out. Camel HS/SGS was ranked the top
most important disease of camels ahead of Respiratory Disease Complex I (RDC 1), Camel Pox, Wry Neck and Respiratory Disease Complex 2. Enlarged superficial lymph nodes, lachrymation, fever, recumbency, bad odour and high mortality were heavily associated with HS/SGS. Other clinical signs given by the infom1ants include shivering, little or no urine, slight cough, dyspnoea and extreme weakness. Main post-mortem flndings are enlarged and hemolThagic lymph nodes, haemolThages in the intestines and subcutaneous tissue and swollen lungs. Furthem10re, according to the informants, the age group most affected by HS/SGS are young adults (3-5 years) with an expected mean morbidity rate of 67%, followed by older calves (0.5-2 years) at 49%. Adults are less affected with an expected mean morbidity rate of 18%. Expected mean within herd morbidity and mortality rates of HS/SGS were estimated at 49% and 46%, respectively. The disease is said to run a clinical course of about 2 weeks' and a prolonged outbreak is estimated to take an average of 3.5 months in a herd before it ceases. There was no significant agreement regarding the seasonality of HS/SGS though most informants gave high scores for the cold and dry period of the year (June-August). HS/SGS, RDC I and Pox were ranked as the most frequently occurring camel diseases in that order. HS/SGS and wry neck had the worst relative response to treatment compared to trypanosomosis, RDC 2 and RDC 1, and trypanosomosis having the highest relative response. There was good agreement (W=0.815) between the groups regarding the ranking of the benefits derived from camels in order of importance as follows: milk (21 %),
transportation (17%), cash/barter (15%), dowry (13%), meat (11 %), sacrifice (9%), slaughter for funeral (8%), skin (4%) and prestige (2%). On estimating the relative effects of priority
diseases on these benefits, HS/SOS had the highest relative effects on some of the most important benefits of camels such as milk, transportation, dowry and funeral, while pox hadthe highest relative effects on skin and sacrifice. The relative effects of both HS/SOS and Pox on the meat and cashlbarter were the same. The agreements between groups regarding these effects were moderate to good except for funeral where there was no significant agreement. In the investigation of an outbreak of suspected HS/SOS that occurred in Wajir East and Mandera West, the clinical signs given by the infom1ants were confinned. The mean morbidity rate of HS/SOS was 20% and the mean case fatality rate was 37% in this outbreak.The majority of camels affected were mainly between 10 months and 5 years of age and the Upper Age Limit Was 12 Years Confirming The Infom1ation Given By The Informants. Out Of The Fourteen Samples Collected, Seven (Nasal Swabs) Were Positive For Genus Pasteurella When Tested By Api 20 ne (Analytical Profiling Index For Non-Enteric Bacteria). However The Test Could Not Determine Specific Species Involved. Based On The Result Of This Study, It Was Concluded That Hs/SGs Is an Important Disease In Northern Kenya Exerting High Relative Socioeconomic Pressure On The Pastoralists. It Was Also Concluded That The Infonnation Given By The Informants Largely Agreed With The Description Of This Disease In The Available Literature And It ' Leaned ' Towards SGs More Than The Typical Camel Hs Description. However, Due To The Inability Of This Study To Put Clear Difference Between Hs And SGs And Find Their Causative Agent (S), It Was Recommended That More In-Depth Studies Are To Be Done To Ascertain The Occrrence Of Both Hs And SGs And Clearly Differentiate Them Or Conclude Beyond Doubt That Only One Of Them Is Present In Northern Kenya.
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Keywords
Haemorrhagic septicaemia (BS), swollen gland syndrome (SOS), camel, Northem Kenya, participatory epidemiology (PE), socioeconomic