| dc.description.abstract | In northern Uganda where Patongo Town Council is located, inadequate information on tick diversity is available. A study was conducted in in Patongo Town Council Sub-County in Agago district to identify the tick species infesting cattle in the area and their distribution in the area. In total, 6992 ticks were collected between 10th April 2023 and 16th April 2023 from 184 cattle in four parishes of Patongo Town Council Sub-County namely Forest parish, Akomo parish, Pece parish and Oporot parish and were identified morphologically using a stereomicroscope in the parasitology laboratory at College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity. Ticks identified belonged to 10 species: 7 Rhipicephalus species (Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (Rhi. appendiculatus), Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus (Rhi. (Bo.) decoloratus), Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi (Rhi. e. evertsi), Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus (Rhi. (Bo.) annulatus), Rhipicephalus simus (Rhi. simus), Rhipicephalus pravus (Rhi. pravus), Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Rhi. (Bo.) microplus)).3 Amblyomma species (Amblyomma lepidum (Amb. lepidum), Amblyomma hebraeum (Amb. hebraeum), Amblyomma variegatum (Amb. variegatum)). The most common tick species were Amb. Variegatum (1775 ticks), Rhi. appendiculatus (1743 ticks), Rhi. (Bo.) annulatus (1623 ticks), and Rhi. pravus (814 ticks). The least abundant tick species were; Amb. hebraeum (18 ticks), Amb. lepidum (83 ticks), Rhi. (Bo.) decoloratus (142 ticks), and Rhi. (Bo.) microplus (146 ticks). The study expands the knowledge on tick fauna in Agago district and shows multiple tick species infesting cattle with potential to transmit several tick-borne diseases including zoonotic pathogens. Thus, there is need to develop tick control strategies that can be adopted by farmers in the areas in order to reduce loses due to tick-borne diseases. Further studies are required to determine tick species diversity, distribution and population dynamics in other parts of the district and using molecular methods is recommended. | en_US |
