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Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-oag-10.1177_00307270231176577 for Spatial changes to climatic suitability and availability of agropastoral farming systems across Kenya (1980–2020) by Ted J Lawrence, Justin M Vilbig, Geoffrey Kangogo and Eric M Fèvre, Sharon L Deem, Ilona Gluecks, Vasit Sagan, Enbal Shacham in Outlook on Agriculture

Background: Outbreaks of a Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS) like disease causing large mortalities in camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Asia and in Africa have been reported since 1890. Yet the aetiology of this condition remains elusive. This study is the first to apply state of the art molecular methods to shed light on the nasopharyngeal carrier state of Pasteurellaceae in camels. The study focused on HS causing Pasteurella multocida capsular types B and E. Other Pasteurellaceae, implicated in common respiratory infections of animals, were also investigated. Methods: In 2007 and 2008, 388 nasopharyngeal swabs were collected at 12 locations in North Kenya from 246 clinically healthy camels in 81 herds that had been affected by HS-like disease. Swabs were used to cultivate bacteria on blood agar and to extract DNA for subsequent PCR analysis targeting P. multocida and Mannheimia-specific gene sequences. Results: Forty-five samples were positive for P. multocida genes kmt and psl and for the P. multocida Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS) specific sequences KTSP61/KTT72 but lacked HS-associated capsular type B and E genes capB and capE. This indicates circulation of HS strains in camels that lack established capsular types. Sequence analysis of the partial 16S rRNA gene identified 17 nasal swab isolates as 99% identical with Mannheimia granulomatis, demonstrating a hitherto unrecognised active carrier state for M. granulomatis or a closely related Mannheimia sp. in camels. Conclusions: The findings of this study provide evidence for the presence of acapsular P. multocida or of hitherto unknown capsular types of P. multocida in camels, closely related to P. multocida strains causing HS in bovines. Further isolations and molecular studies of camelid P. multocida from healthy carriers and from HS-like disease in camels are necessary to provide conclusive answers. This paper is the first report on the isolation of M. granulomatis or a closely related new Mannheimia species from camelids.

Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) is a highly contagious disease caused by Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae that affects goats in Africa and Asia. Current available methods for the diagnosis of Mycoplasma infection, including cultivation, serological assays, and PCR, are time-consuming and require fully equipped stationary laboratories, which make them incompatible with testing in the resource-poor settings that are most relevant to this disease. We report a rapid, specific, and sensitive assay employing isothermal DNA amplification using recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) for the detection of M. capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae. We developed the assay using a specific target sequence in M. capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae, as found in the genome sequence of the field strain ILRI181 and the type strain F38 and that was further evidenced in 10 field strains from different geographical regions. Detection limits corresponding to 5 × 10(3) and 5 × 10(4) cells/ml were obtained using genomic DNA and bacterial culture from M. capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae strain ILRI181, while no amplification was obtained from 71 related Mycoplasma isolates or from the Acholeplasma or the Pasteurella isolates, demonstrating a high degree of specificity. The assay produces a fluorescent signal within 15 to 20 min and worked well using pleural fluid obtained directly from CCPP-positive animals without prior DNA extraction. We demonstrate that the diagnosis of CCPP can be achieved, with a short sample preparation time and a simple read-out device that can be powered by a car battery, in

A new hepatitis E virus (HEV-7) was recently found in dromedaries and 1 human from the United Arab Emirates. We screened 2,438 dromedary samples from Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, and 4 African countries. HEV-7 is long established, diversified and geographically widespread. Dromedaries may constitute a neglected source of zoonotic HEV infections.

Camels are getting increasingly important for pastoral livestock systems in arid and semi-arid rangelands of East Africa that are adversely affected by climate change. Cattle are more susceptible to drought than camels and rely on grass, while camels are primarily browsers. Diet selection can influence the quality of the milk, especially of the milk fat. Little is known about differences in milk fatty acid profile of camels compared to cattle, especially under free-grazing conditions. Camels and two cattle types were compared on Kenyan rangelands in a rainy season and a transition period. Seventy-two lactating animals (12 per animal type per season each) were used. Half of each group received a urea-molasses supplement at night. Intakes of nutrients and phenols were estimated through scan sampling. Milk was collected at the end of each season and analyzed for phenols and fatty acids. Phenol intakes varied between seasons in cattle but not in camels. Different from animal type, season had an effect on milk phenol concentration. Phenol excretion with the milk of cattle correlated with phenol intake. Proportions of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids were higher in camel milk than cattle milk. Cattle milk contained more conjugated linoleic acids than camel milk in the rainy season. Proportions of oleic, linoleic, α-linolenic and eicosapentaenoic acid were higher, whereas n-6-to-n-3 fatty acid ratio was lower in camel milk than cattle milk. Camels may have developed control mechanisms limiting adverse effects and transfer of phenols to milk in response to their higher intake of phenol-rich browse. In conclusion, camel milk seems to be more beneficial for human health and nutrition than cattle milk by its characteristic fatty acid profile. This can be another motivation for switching from cattle to camels in arid/semi-arid areas affected by climate change., Scientific African, 13