Original Research

Spatiotemporal patterns of clinical bovine dermatophilosis in Zimbabwe 1995–2014

Felistas Ndhlovu, Daud N. Ndhlovu, Sylvester M. Chikerema, Mhosisi Masocha, Mudavanhu Nyagura, Davies M. Pfukenyi
Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research | Vol 84, No 1 | a1386 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ojvr.v84i1.1386 | © 2017 Felistas Ndhlovu, Daud N. Ndhlovu, Sylvester M. Chikerema, Mhosisi Masocha, Mudavanhu Nyagura, Davies M. Pfukenyi | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 13 October 2016 | Published: 27 June 2017

About the author(s)

Felistas Ndhlovu, Division of Veterinary Services, Department of Livestock and Veterinary Services, Zimbabwe
Daud N. Ndhlovu, Department of Clinical Veterinary Studies, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
Sylvester M. Chikerema, Department of Clinical Veterinary Studies, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
Mhosisi Masocha, Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
Mudavanhu Nyagura, Department of Pre-Clinical Veterinary Studies, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe
Davies M. Pfukenyi, Department of Clinical Veterinary Studies, University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe

Abstract

A retrospective study of clinical bovine dermatophilosis outbreaks and cases for the period 1995–2014 was conducted, using data obtained from the Division of Veterinary Services (DVS). A total of 3856 outbreaks and 26 659 cases of dermatophilosis were reported countrywide during this period. The post rainy season accounted for 37.9% of the outbreaks followed by the rainy season (26.7%), cold dry season (22.1%) and the hot dry season (13.2%). A retrospective space–time scan statistic in SaTScanTM was used to detect clusters. From this study, it was evident that dermatophilosis was spreading from the north-west of Zimbabwe through the central to the north-east during the period 2010–2014. Five clusters were identified mainly in the central and north-western regions of Zimbabwe. The primary cluster was centred at Ungwe, Gokwe district in Midlands; the second, third, fourth and fifth likely clusters were centred at Bonga (Mashonaland Central), ARDA (Mashonaland West), Nsenga (Matabeleland North) and Zanda in Gokwe, respectively. The findings of this study suggest the continued spread of dermatophilosis across the country; as such the Department of Livestock and Veterinary Services are advised to develop measures aimed at managing this spread such as dipping, quarantine, movement control and raising farmer awareness.

Keywords

scan; dermatophilosis; cattle; spatial; cluster

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