Prevalence of tick species infesting cattle in Itek Sub-County, Lira District

Abstract

Ticks and tick-borne diseases (TTBDs) are a significant threat to livestock production in sub-Saharan Africa. Cattle trade, communal grazing and the presence of wildlife predispose cattle to TTBDs. Tick species abundance and distribution data can be used as a tool for early disease diagnosis and inform tick control strategies. However, these data for Itek sub-county were limited. Ticks were randomly collected from 210 cattle spread across Itek sub-county from 27th March, 2024 to 2nd April, 2024. The ticks were identified morphologically using a light stereo microscope. A collection of 702 ticks was examined and four tick species from two genera (three Rhipicephalus; one Amblyomma species) were identified. Amblyomma variegatum was the most dominant 343 (54.71%) tick species, followed by Rhipicephalus appendiculatus 213 (33.97%); Rhipicephalus decoloratus 70 (11.16%) and Rhipicephalus evertsi 1 (0.16%). Three of these tick species were ubiquitous in all the parishes while one, Rhipicephalus evertsi was only found in Olilo parish. The proportion of cattle infested with ticks in Itek sub-county was 95.7%. This study demonstrates high tick infestation rates in cattle by different tick species with potential to transmit several tick-borne diseases including zoonotic pathogens in Itek sub-county, Lira district. Rhipicephalus decoloratus transmit Babesia pathogens that cause bovine babesiosis, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus transmit Theileria that cause therilosis, Amblyomma variegatum transmit Erhlicia ruminatium that cause heartwater. The study provides the knowledge on tick fauna in Itek sub-county. Tick occurrence and prevalence data are useful in the design of targeted tick control strategies which are affordable and environmentally friendly. There is a need to determine the extent of spread of tick species in other regions of Uganda.