Molecular Detection of Rotavirus Infections and Risk Factor Analysis in Piglets From Kiambu, Kenya.
Abstract
Pig production is an important livestock subsector globally contributing immensely to food
security and household incomes. Diseases such as rotavirus infections are challenges that hamper
its productivity. Rotaviruses are members of the Reoviridae family with wheel-shaped appearance
when viewed under electron microscopy. There are ten rotavirus groups (A-J) but only five groups
(A, B, C, E and H) are known pathogens to pigs. The aim of this study was to detect rotaviruses
that circulate in pig farms and to determine the risk factors associated with infections of piglets in
Kiambu, Kenya. Two hundred and fifty-five fecal samples from fifty two farms were collected
from clinically healthy piglets aged three months and below. Molecular detection of rotavirus
geno-groups was done using real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR)
and conventional reverse transcriptase PCR. Similarly, semi-structured questionnaires were
administered to pig farmers to capture data on their socio-economic characteristics, herd size and
pig farm management practices. Out of the 52 farms, 38.5% of them had piglets that were infected
with at least one rotavirus group. Rotavirus group A (RVA) was detected in 13.5% of the farms,
group C (RVC) in 23.1%, however, group B (RVB) was not detected in any of the farms. One
farm had co-infection with RVA and RVC. Animal level prevalence was 16.1% where RVC was
more prevalent with 10% followed by RVA with 6% and lastly co-infection with RVA and RVC
with a prevalence of 0.4% in the pig farms. Most (61.5%) of the interviewed farmers were males
and a high percentage (71.2%) had attained post- primary level of education. More than half
(57.8%) of the farmers had kept pigs for less than 6 years and the main reason for keeping them
was for sale (84.6%). Half of the farmers kept crossbred pigs and most of them (82.7%) used
natural mating as the breeding method and 58.5% produced their own replacement stocks. About
sixty five percent reported history of diarrhea in their farms. All the farmers kept pigs in
confinement until they attained market weight. Within most farms, biosecurity measures were less
practiced with only 26.9% and 7.7% of the farms practicing disinfection of premises and
vaccination of pigs respectively. However, none of the farmers interviewed had vaccinated their
pigs against rotavirus. Gender of the pig farmer influenced the occurrence of rotavirus infections
in farms; with farms managed by women having a reduced odds of test positivity. Pig houses made
of concrete floor and wooden walls, feeding mixed feed and keeping other animals within the farm
was shown to reduce the risk of diarrhea in pig farms. In conclusion, porcine rotavirus A and C
are circulating in pig farms in Kiambu. Furthermore, there is low levels of biosecurity measures
implemented in farms which may support persistence of the virus in pig farms. It is recommended
that surveillance systems should prioritize rotavirus infections in pig farms and enhanced farmer
education on importance of biosecurity measures to prevent of rotavirus infections to other
connected farms.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
The following license files are associated with this item: