Heat Intolerance Syndrome Associated With Foot and Mouth Disease in Cattle in Tanzania: Occurrence and Its Effect on Animal Behaviour and Physiological Parameters

Abstract

A heat intolerance (HI) syndrome in cattle has been suspected to occur in Tanzania and is associated with previous exposure to foot and mouth disease (FMD) virus. For the present study, a survey was used to explore livestock keeper knowledge of its occurrence and association with FMD in Morogoro, Mwanza and Shinyanga regions. In addition, a field experiment was conducted to          evaluate changes in behavioural activities and physiological parameters of  HI cattle during variation of   ambient temperatures. Large percentage (45.3%) of informants from Morogoro region reported occurrence of HI and associated it with FMD.  Livestock keepers' perceptions of association between HI and FMD were confirmed by using the detection of antibody to FMDV. From the field experiment it was shown that HI animals had significantly (P<0.001) higher rectal temperatures and respiration rates than health cows. Duration of grazing and rumination were significantly (P< 0.001) lowered in the HI cows than in the health ones during sunny days. Also, shade seeking was significantly (P< 0.001) higher in HI than in healthy animals. Furthermore, for HI animals grazing was higher during the morning and on cloudy days, than in late evening and sunny days respectively. It was also evident that HI animals preferred wallowing in water. Based on the knowledge of livestock keepers, from the present study, it is concluded that livestock keepers in Tanzania recognize HI as a disease, which sets in as a sequel to FMD outbreak. Based on the results from the field experiment it is concluded that during sunny days HI animals exhibit behavioural changes which reduces their feeding time.