Ticks and risk factors related to tick infestation of cattle in lwebitakuli-sembabule

Abstract

Tick infestation is the major problem for animal health that causes substantial economic losses, particularly in tropical and subtropical countries. This study aimed to identify the tick species infesting cattle and to determine possible risk factors related to tick infestation in Lwebitakuli subcounty of Sembabule district in Uganda. In July, sixteen (16) cattle farms were visited for tick collection and all the herds of these farms had ticks and 95.5% of the sampled cattle were infested with ticks. A total of 3105 ticks were collected of which 3081(99%) were adults and 24(1%) were nymphs. Two species of ticks were identified, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and Rhipicephalus decoloratus in proportions of 37% and 62% respectively. The distribution of the sexes showed that in the species R. appendiculatus, males were more numerous (62% for males and 38% for females) while only females for species R. decoloratus females were found. A statistically significant difference was observed in grazing system as a risk factor where the zero grazed animals were 3 times less at a risk of tick infestation than the communally and restricted grazed cattle. The young, female, indigenous, spraying weekly and having other livestock on the farm were also associated with higher tick burden in cattle. This study showed there was high burden and prevalence of ticks that still play major roles in reducing productivity and cause health problems of cattle in the area which call for urgent attention.