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Ticks and tick-borne parasites associated with indigenous cattle in Didtuyura Ranch, southern Ethiopia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

G. Solomon ,
G. P. Kaaya ,
F. Gebreab ,
T. Gemetchu  and
G. Tilahun
G. Solomon
Affiliation:
Shola Veterinary Laboratory, P.O. Box 3431, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
G. P. Kaaya
Affiliation:
The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya
F. Gebreab
Affiliation:
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 34, Debrezeit, Ethiopia
T. Gemetchu
Affiliation:
Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
G. Tilahun
Affiliation:
Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Abstract

Tick populations were monitored between October 1991 and September 1992 at monthly intervals on 10 Boran (Bos indicus) heifers at Didtuyura ranch, Yabelo district, Ethiopia. Twelve different tick species in four genera were identified from a total of 16 026 specimens collected. Of all the ticks collected, Rhipicephalus spp. constituted 84.7%, Amblyomma spp. 9.9%, Boophilus spp. 4.8% and Hyalomma spp. 0.24%. The ventral parts of cattle were found to be the most favoured feeding sites for most of the ticks collected. The size ranges of the standard ticks collected were 4–8 mm; 9–16 mm; 4–8 mm and 8–13 mm for R. pulchellus, A. variegatum, B. decoloratus and A. gemma, respectively, while their respective male to female sex ratios were 2:1; 3.2:1; 1:5.4 and 2.6:1. Packed cell volume (PCV) values of blood samples taken from 600 cattle were monitored monthly during the study period. There was a reduction in PCV during the dry season of the year but generally the values were within the normal range of 32–40%. The parasites causing anaplasmosis, babesiosis and theileriosis (T. mutans) were detected by microscopic examination of blood smears and serologically (ELISA) at seroprevalence rates of 94.68%, 77.19% and 30.9% respectively.

Résumé

Au ranch de Didtuyura, district de Yabelo en Ethiopie, les populations des tiques ont fait l'objet de suivi sur 10 génisses de zébu (Bos indicus), entre septembre 1991 et octobre 1992, avec un mois d'intervalle entre les observations. A partir de 16.026 specimens de tiques collectées, on a identifié douze espèces différentes, réparties en quatre genres. De toute la collection des tiques échantillonnées on a dénombré 84,7% de Rhipicephalus spp., 9,9% d'Amblyoma spp., 4,8 % de Boophillus spp. et 0,24% de Hyalomma spp. Les parties de la région ventrale du corps des animaux constituaient des sites les plus préférés de prise de repas pour la plupart des tiques collectées. La taille des tiques normales se rangeait respectivement entre 4–8 mm; 9–16 mm; 4–8mm et 8–13mm pour R. pulchellus, A. variegatus, B. decoloratus et A. gemma, tandis que le rapport respectif du nombre de mâles par rapport aux femelles par espèce, était de 2:1; 3,2:1; 1:5,4 et de 2,6:1. Le volume du culot plasmatique de sang prélevé sur 600 animaux était aussi mesuré mensuellement pendant toute la durée de l'étude. Il a été constaté une diminution du volume du culot plasmatique pendant la saison sèche mais ces valeurs se situaient généralement dans la fourchette des valeurs normales qui sont de l'ordre de 32–40%. Les examens microscopiques par frottis de sang et sérologiques par méthodes (ELISA) ont révélé 94,68%; 77,19% et 30,9% de cas de séropositivité pour l'anaplasmose, la babésiose et la théilériose (T. mutans) respectivement.

Keywords

tick speciesBos indicusRhipicephalus pulchellusAmblyomma variegatumA. gemmaBoophilus decoloratusanaplasmosisbabesiosistheileriosisles tiquesBos indicusRhipicephalus pulchellusAmblyomma variegatumA. gemmaBoophilus decoloratusanaplasmosebabésiosethéilériose
Type
Research Articles
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 18 , Issue 1 , March 1998 , pp. 59 - 66
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1998

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