Identification and Prevalence Study of Cattle Ticks (Acari; Ixodidae) in Ejere District, West Shewa Zone, Ethiopia - Abstract
A cross sectional study was conducted from November 2014 to March 2015 in Ejere district with the objectives of determining the prevalence, identifying Ixodidae cattle ticks, their predilection sites and burden in relation to breed, sex, and age group of animals. A total of 392 cattle were examined and of which 164 (41.8%) found infested with one or more tick species. Among the total 4s68 ticks collected, four genera (Amblyomma, Boophilus, Hyalomma and Rhipicephalus) and four species (A.variegatum, B. decoloratus, Hy.m rufipes and Rh.evertsi evertsi) were identified with relative prevalence of 36.5% ; 27.86%;18.34%; 17.3% respectively. Ambylomma genus shows higher preference to axilla, scrotum, udder, and belly/groin. B. decoloratus were found prominently on the dewlap/neck. Rh. evertsi evertsi and Hy.m.rufipes showed high preference to the under base of tail and ano-vulval regions of the body. The male to female sex ratio of the collected ticks revealed that higher proportion of male than their counter parts except for Boophiilus decoloratus. There is statistically significant difference between semi-intensive and extensive management systems (P = 0.000) indicating that cattle under extensive management system were 9.33 times higher (OR =9.33) to be infested by ticks compared to cattle under semi-intensive management system. Using univariate logistic regression age was found to have statistically significant effect for tick infestation (p= 0.002). The overall tick infestation in different age group of cattle was 17.1%, 45.4% and 44.4% for < 1year, 1-3 years and 3-6 years of age respectively. The present study contributes its part in bringing information on the distribution and tick species composition in the study area. This may help in the development of best control strategies of tick- and tick-borne diseases in the study area in particular and country wise in general. Accordingly, it is recommended that further studies on the distribution of tick species and their epidemiology are necessary for the continuous understanding of improved control strategies.