Study on the prevalence of tick infestation of Cattle presented at Guder Mamo Mezemir Campus Veterinary Teaching Clinic, Guder, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia
Rebuma T, Berhanu G and Gemechu Z
Published on: 2024-07-03
Abstract
Tick infestation represents a significant parasitological challenge for cattle, particularly in Ethiopia, where livestock is crucial in agriculture. This study was conducted in the Toke Kutaye district of the West Shewa Zone, Oromia Regional State, to investigate the prevalence of tick infestation and associated risk factors among cattle. A cross-sectional survey involving 384 cattle was conducted from October 2023 to March 2024, revealing an overall infestation rate of 58.9%. The predominant tick species identified included Ambylomma variegatum (46.5%), Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus (35.0%), Rhipicephalus evertsi (14.8%), Ambylomma cohaerens (2.2%), and Haemaphysalis aciculifer (1.4%). Statistical analysis highlighted significantly higher infestation rates among adult cattle (71.4%) compared to young cattle (40.3%) (p = 0.000), with no significant differences observed by sex (p = 0.358) or breed (p = 0.565). These findings underscore the critical need for targeted tick control strategies adapted to local ecological conditions to minimize economic losses and bolster regional livestock productivity.
Keywords
Cattle; Guder; Veterinary clinic; Ticks; PrevalenceIntroduction
Ethiopia boasts the largest animal population in Africa, comprising approximately 70 million cattle, 42.9 million sheep, 52.5 million goats, 2.15 million horses, 10.80 million donkeys, 0.38 million mules, 8.1 million camels, and 57 million poultry [1]. This abundance is supported by Ethiopia's favorable geography and climate, which are highly conducive to animal production [2]. Despite Ethiopia's vast livestock population and favorable environmental conditions, the country's current livestock output falls short of its potential. This disparity is primarily attributed to the prevalence of endemic diseases with a global distribution, which significantly restricts cattle production and productivity [3]. Ectoparasites, especially ticks, play a crucial role in this scenario, contributing to declines in the production and reproduction of animals, as well as the degradation and rejection of animal skins [4]. These parasites not only pose considerable health risks to both humans and animals but also lead to substantial economic losses across Ethiopia [5].
Birds, reptiles, and mammals are among the many creatures that are infected by ticks, which are ectoparasites that feed exclusively on blood [4]. According to Wall and Shearer [4], ticks belong to the order Acari, class Arachnida, and phylum Arthropoda. Globally, 896 distinct tick species have been documented, categorized into three families: Nuttalliellidae, which has one species; Ixodidae, which includes 702 known species of hard ticks; and Argasidae, comprising 193 known species of soft ticks [6]. The life cycle of an ixodid tick consists of four developmental stages: the egg, the six-legged larva, the eight-legged nymph, and the adult [7].
Ticks are quite prevalent and widely dispersed throughout the entire agroecological zone of Ethiopia [8]. The principal tick genera identified in domestic animals in Haramaya include Ambylomma, Hyalomma, Rhipicephalus, and Haemaphysalis [9]. Rhipicephalus lunulatus species have been found in Central Ethiopia, while Rhipicephalus muhasmae species are present in the country's wetter western regions [10]. Various Rhipicephalus species, including Rhipicephalus distinctus, Rhipicephalus humoralis, Rhipicephalus cliffordi, and Rhipicephalus compositus, have been identified in Wollo and Northeast Ethiopia. In the Hawassa regions of eastern Ethiopia, the two most frequent Ambylomma species are Ambylomma variegatum and Ambylomma cohaerens, with Ambylomma variegatum and Ambylomma gemma being the most prevalent species overall [11]. Additionally, Ambylomma gemma has been reported in Ethiopia's eastern and southern regions, and both Ambylomma variegatum and Ambylomma cohaerens have been noted in Haramaya [12].
In the Toke Kutaye district, there is limited knowledge about the variety of tick species and the frequency of infestations. The prevalence and severity of tick infestation in cattle were assessed in these study areas. Information on the prevalence, identification, distribution, and risk factors of tick infestations is significant because the results could serve as baseline data for making decisions on control strategies. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of tick infestation and identify major risk factors associated with the occurrence of ticks in cattle in and around Guder town.
Materials And Methods
Study Area Description
The study was conducted in Toke Kutaye district, located in the West Shewa Zone, Guder town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia, from October 2023 to March 2024. This district lies 12 km from Ambo town, the zonal capital, and 119 km from Finfine, the capital of Oromia. According to the Toke Kutaye district livestock agency, the region is home to 336,310 cattle, 53,492 sheep, 32,492 goats, 376,596 chickens, 2,665 horses, 6,445 mules, and 27,772 donkeys [13].
Study Population
The study focused on cattle in and around Guder town, including animals of various sexes, ages, breeds, colors, and body conditions. The cattle originated from several kebeles: Imala dawe, Guder 01, Guder 02, Birbirsa dogoma, and Dada galan.
Study design
A cross-sectional study was conducted on randomly selected cattle to determine the prevalence of tick infestation. Information on the breed, sex, age, body condition, color, and origin of the study animals was collected. For convenience, cattle were categorized into two age groups: young (<1.5 years) and adults (≥1.5 years). Body condition scores were classified into Good, Medium, and Poor based on the animals' body scores, following the criteria set by Maurya, [14].
Sample size determination
The sample size for the study was determined based on an assumed expected prevalence of 50% for tick infestation. To achieve a 95% confidence level with 5% absolute precision, a sample size of 384 cattle was calculated and examined, following the guidelines provided by Thrusfield [15].
N=1.962 pexp (1-pexp)
d2
Where n= sample size; p= Expected prevalence; d= Desired level of precision (5%)
Tick collection and identification
Ticks collected during the study were preserved in 70% ethyl alcohol and glycerol to prevent dehydration. These ticks were obtained from the body regions of cattle in the study districts over the designated period [16]. Identification of the ticks was conducted at the species level using morphological characteristics such as the shape of the scutum, leg color, scutum ornamentation, body grooves, punctuations, basis capitulum, coxae, and ventral plates, following protocols outlined by Houseman [17] and Walker [16]. For accurate identification, the preserved ticks were transported to the Laboratory room at Ambo University Guder Mamo Mezemir Campus Veterinary Teaching Clinic.
Data analysis
All collected data was meticulously entered and stored in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet using MS-2010. The data were appropriately coded and subsequently analyzed using the SPSS statistical software package (version 26.0 for Windows). The prevalence of ticks was computed as a percentage by dividing the number of animals testing positive for infestation by the total number of animals sampled. To assess the association between various risk factors; such as age groups, sexes, breeds, color, and body conditions, and the presence of tick infestation, odds ratios and chi-square tests were employed. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05, indicating significant associations, while p > 0.05 indicated non-significant associations in this analysis.
Results
In this study, 384 cattle were thoroughly examined for tick infestation, revealing that 226 out of the total 384 animals (58.9%) were infected with one or more types of ticks. Throughout the study period in the districts, a total of 4,504 ixodid ticks were collected from the infected cattle. These ticks comprised 3,918 adults, including 1,766 males and 2,152 females, as well as 586 immature stages, consisting of 62 larvae and 524 nymphs (Table 1).
Table 1: Overall count, percentage, and abundance of tick species identified during the study period.
No |
Species |
Sex |
Immature Ticks |
Total Count |
||
Male |
Female |
Nymph |
Larvae |
|||
1 |
Ambylomma variegatum |
1206 |
505 |
357 |
27 |
2095(46.5%) |
2 |
Ambylomma cohaerens |
39 |
32 |
31 |
0 |
102(2.2%) |
3 |
Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus |
147 |
1260 |
136 |
35 |
1578(35.0%) |
4 |
Rhipicephalus evertsi |
349 |
316 |
0 |
0 |
665(14.8%) |
5 |
Haemaphysalis aciculifer |
25 |
39 |
0 |
0 |
64(1.4%) |
Total |
1766/39.2 |
2152/47.7 |
524/11.6 |
62/1.3 |
4504 |
Tick species by sex
During the study period, more male ticks than female ticks were observed among the four genera and five species of ticks that were examined. The overall male-to-female ratio was 0.8:1. The male-to-female ratio of the following species, Ambylomma variegatum, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus, Rhipicephalus evertsi, Ambylomma cohaerens, and Haemaphysalis aciculifer, is indicated in Table 2.
Table 2: The prevalence and sex ratio of tick species were collected during the study period.
Ticks Species |
Male |
Female |
Total Count |
Overall M/F Ratio |
Prevalence % |
Ambylomma variegatum |
1206 |
505 |
1711 |
2.38:1 |
38.00% |
Ambylomma cohaerens |
39 |
32 |
71 |
1.21:1 |
1.58% |
Rhipicephalus (boophilus) decoloratus |
147 |
1260 |
1407 |
0.11:1 |
31.20% |
Rhipicephalus evertsi |
349 |
316 |
665 |
1.10:1 |
14.80% |
Haemaphysalis aciculifer |
25 |
39 |
61 |
0.64:1 |
1.30% |
Total |
1766 |
2152 |
3918 |
0.82:1 |
87.00% |
Prevalence of ticks concerning by Sex, Age, Breed, and Body condition in the area.
From a total of 384 cattle examined, 108 (61.3%) and 118 (56.7%) males and females were infested with the tick, respectively. Different age groups of animals were observed for tick infestation; the highest numbers were found in adult animals: 163 (71.4%) and 63 (40.3%) were identified in young animals, respectively. The relatively highest prevalence recorded in poor body condition was 48 (82.8%), medium 150 (57.4%), and good 28 (43.0%), as shown below (Table 3).
Table 3: The prevalence of ticks relates to different risk factors.
Risk factor |
Category |
Animals examined |
Animals infested |
Prevalence % |
95% Confidence interval |
χ2 |
P-value |
|
Lower |
Upper |
|||||||
Breed |
Exotic |
101 |
57 |
56.4 |
0.723 |
1.812 |
0.331 |
0.565 |
Local |
283 |
169 |
59.7 |
|||||
Age |
Adult |
228 |
163 |
71.4 |
0.176 |
0.415 |
37.011 |
0 |
Young |
156 |
63 |
40.3 |
|||||
Sex |
Female |
208 |
118 |
56.7 |
0.805 |
1.824 |
0.845 |
0.358 |
Male |
176 |
108 |
61.3 |
|||||
Body condition |
Good |
65 |
28 |
43 |
- |
- |
20.574 |
0 |
Medium |
261 |
150 |
57.4 |
|||||
Poor |
58 |
48 |
82.8 |
|||||
Origin |
Birbirsa dogoma ddogoma |
53 |
32 |
60.3 |
- |
- |
18.834 |
0.004 |
Dada galan |
92 |
58 |
63 |
|||||
Guder 01 |
31 |
14 |
45.1 |
|||||
Guder 02 |
55 |
34 |
61.9 |
|||||
Imala dawe |
153 |
88 |
57.5 |
|||||
Colour |
Black |
117 |
72 |
61.5 |
- |
- |
5.409 |
0.144 |
Brown |
69 |
32 |
46.3 |
|||||
Red |
177 |
109 |
61.5 |
|||||
White |
21 |
13 |
61.9 |
Discussion
Tick distribution and Associated Risk Factors
The distribution and prevalence of tick species infesting cattle across Ethiopia exhibit significant variability influenced by diverse environmental and climatic factors, including annual rainfall, temperature, humidity, vegetation, altitude, and host availability [18]. A study conducted at the Guder Veterinary Teaching Clinic highlighted the prevalence and associated risk factors of tick infestation among cattle. Out of the 384 cattle examined, 226 were found to be infested with at least one species of tick, resulting in an overall prevalence rate of 58.9% in the study area.
The findings of this study are consistent with previous reports by Tadese and Gadise [19], who recorded an overall tick infestation prevalence of 57.6% in cattle from the Ambo district, West Shewa Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. Other studies have also documented higher prevalence rates of tick infestation in different regions of the country, such as Gedilu et al. reporting 74% in Bahir Dar and Wolde and Bedaso [20] noting 65.5% in Wolaita Soddo, southern Ethiopia. Regarding body condition, our study observed a higher prevalence of tick infestation among cattle in poor body condition (82.8%), which aligns with the findings of Tadese and Gadise [19], reporting 86.6% prevalence under similar conditions in the Ambo district. This correlation can be attributed to reduced resistance among cattle with medium body conditions, making them more susceptible to diseases while grazing. In contrast, well-fed animals demonstrate higher resistance whether grazing or kept at home, as noted by Tafesse and Amante [21].
According to the study's findings, the most prevalent tick species identified in the study areas were Amblyomma variegatum (46.5%), followed by Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus (35.0%), Rhipicephalus evertsi (14.8%), Ambylomma cohaerens (2.2%), and Haemaphysalis aciculifer (1.4%). These percentages reflect the relative abundance of each species among the ticks collected from the study cattle. It is important to note that the distribution and prevalence of these tick species can vary significantly due to environmental factors such as annual rainfall, relative humidity, ambient temperature, vegetation cover, altitude, and the availability of suitable hosts. Such variations underscore the dynamic nature of tick ecology and emphasize the need for localized studies to understand and manage tick infestations effectively [22].
In this study, several factors influencing tick infestation prevalence were examined, including the sex, age, breed, color, and body condition of the animals. Notably, the prevalence of all tick species was observed to be higher in male animals compared to females, with 61.3% of males and 56.7% of females affected. Statistical analysis indicated that this difference was not significant (p > 0.05, p = 0.358), suggesting that sex alone may
not be a determining factor in tick infestation rates. This finding aligns with previous studies by Hussein and Wasihun and Doda, [18], who also reported higher tick infestation rates in male animals. The disparity could be attributed to management practices, as female animals often receive better care indoors, particularly for dairy purposes, whereas male animals grazing outdoors are more exposed to ticks.
In this study, a significant difference in tick infestation rates was observed between adult cattle (71.4%) and young cattle (40.3%), with adults showing a higher prevalence. Statistical analysis confirmed this difference to be highly significant (p < 0.05, p = 0.000). The increased proportion of tick infestation among adults could be attributed to their outdoor management practices and extensive movement in search of food and water, which exposes them more to tick habitats. This finding contrasts with the observations of Yakhchali et al. [23] in the natural habitat of the Sanandaj suburb, Iran, where they reported a higher frequency of tick infestation in young cattle compared to adults.
In this study, local breeds of cattle (59.4%) showed a slightly higher prevalence of tick infestation compared to crossbreeds (56.4%), although this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.565). The lack of significant variation in tick infestation between different cattle breeds in this context could potentially be attributed to similar management practices or environmental exposures affecting both local and crossbred cattle. Factors such as inadequate supplementary feeding, which may lead to lower immunity among local cattle breeds, or insufficient tick control measures across all breeds could contribute to the observed infestation rates. These findings suggest that, despite breed differences, comprehensive tick control strategies may be necessary to effectively mitigate infestation in both local and crossbred cattle populations.
Conclusion And Recommendations
In the current study, a higher tick infestation was found in the area. It was also found that older animals were more infested than adult ones, and animals with poor body condition were more infested by ticks than those in good body condition, implying a possible association of tick infestation with economic loss.
Therefore, Based On The Above Conclusion, The Following Recommendations Are Forwarded:
- Educate cattle owners on the impact of ticks and promote effective management practices.
- Foster collaboration between government, private sectors, and veterinarians to implement integrated tick control programs.
- Conduct regular assessments of tick-borne diseases and tick prevalence to guide proactive management.
- Implement seasonal pasture treatments and effective tick control measures tailored to local ecological conditions.
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interests.
Data Availability
The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during this study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Funding
No funding was received for this study.
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