A Retrospective Report of Viral and Bacterial Diseases in Livestock, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Abstract

Livestock disease, particularly viral and bacterial disease, impedes livestock farming productivity and reduces available food in the current system, leading to food insecurity and economic losses. The current study aimed to determine the prevalence of viral and bacterial disease in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. A retrospective data of livestock diseases in the Eastern Cape Province from 2013 to 2018 was obtained from veterinary records in the Department of Rural and Agrarian Reform (DrDAR), Bisho South Africa database, decoded, analyzed, and interpreted. The result revealed a significant association between local municipality, season, year, and livestock species. The highest prevalence of disease was found in the Lukhanji (29.4%) and Mbhashe (17.5%), while bacterial diseases were more prevalent in Nelson Mandela Bay (27.7%) and Raymond Mhlaba (34.9%) municipalities. More diseases were in autumn (53.8%) and spring (58.5%). The highest proportions of bacterial and viral diseases were in caprine (97.2%) and bovine (41.4%). Odds of disease occurrence were the highest in Intsika yethu local municipality (OR = 3.279, 95% CI = 0.043-263.6) in autumn (OR = 2.131, 95% CI = 0.815-5.569), and in bovine (OR = 58.825, 95% CI = 16.283-205.591). The results necessitate veterinary authorities to strengthen preventative program activities to mitigate livestock diseases in study area.