East Coast fever
A tick-borne disease of cattle in eastern, central and southern Africa, caused by Theileria parva.
Also: theileriosis, ECF
East Coast fever is caused by a single-celled parasite, Theileria parva, carried by the brown ear tick. It infects white blood cells, causing high fever, swollen lymph nodes and breathing problems, and kills a high share of exotic and crossbred cattle that catch it. It takes its name from the coast of East Africa, from where it was carried to southern Africa with imported cattle around 1901 and 1902, causing heavy losses. Local zebu cattle raised in tick areas often survive infection as calves. A live vaccine, given with an antibiotic by the infection-and-treatment method, is used in several countries, alongside tick control by dipping and spraying.