AVAILABILITY OF DATA AND MATERIALS : The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study are not publicly available due to Contract Research Organization agreements (data will be stored in the archives of Clinglobal, Mauritius), but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.CHANGE HISTORY : 12 November 2023. This article has been corrected since original publication.
16 November 2023. A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-06034-2
09 August 2023. A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-05895-xADDITIONAL FILE 1: TABLE S1.
Spatio-temporal variation in tick prevalence in cattle of seven sub-Saharan countries. TABLE S2. Spatio-temporal variation in tick loads in cattle of seven sub-Saharan countries. TABLE S3. and TABLE S4. Distribution of (co-) infestations in cattle individuals.ADDITIONAL FILE 2 : Protocol.BACKGROUND : The majority of the African population lives in rural areas and depends on agriculture for their livelihoods. To increase the productivity and sustainability of their farms, they need access to affordable yield-enhancing inputs of which parasite control is of paramount importance. We therefore determined the status of current tick species with the highest economic impact on cattle by sampling representative numbers of animals in each of seven sub-Saharan countries.
METHODS : Data included tick species’ half-body counts from approximately 120 cattle at each of two districts per country, collected four times in approximately 1 year (to include seasonality). Study sites were chosen in each country to include high cattle density and tick burden.
RESULTS : East Africa (Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania) showed overall a higher diversity and prevalence in tick infestations compared to West African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Nigeria). In East Africa, Amblyomma variegatum (vector of Ehrlichia ruminantium), Rhipicephalus microplus (Babesia bovis, B. bigemina, Anaplasma marginale), R. evertsi evertsi (A. marginale) and R. appendiculatus (Theileria parva) were the most prevalent tick species of economic importance. While the latter species was absent in West Africa, here both A. variegatum and R. microplus occurred in high numbers. Rhipicephalus microplus had spread to Uganda, infesting half of the cattle sampled. Rhipicephalus microplus is known for its invasive behaviour and displacement of other blue tick species, as observed in other East and West African countries. Individual cattle with higher body weights, as well as males, were more likely to be infested. For six tick species, we found reduced infestation levels when hosts were treated with anti-parasiticides.
CONCLUSIONS : These baseline data allow the determination of possible changes in presence and prevalence of ticks in each of the countries targeted, which is of importance in the light of human-caused climate and habitat alterations or anthropogenic activities. As many of the ticks in this study are vectors of important pathogens, but also, as cattle may act as end hosts for ticks of importance to human health, our study will help a wide range of stakeholders to provide recommendations for tick infestation surveillance and prevention.The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).https://parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.comhj2024Veterinary Tropical DiseasesSDG-02:Zero Hunge