Cattle Ticks and Risk Factors Related to Tick Infestation of Livestock in Periurban Farms in Southern Cote D'ivoire
Abstract
Tick-borne diseases are a global public health problem, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where most of the disease is caused by malaria and many other diseases of viral, parasitic or bacterial origin. This study aimed to identify the bovine tick’sspecies in cattle farms and to determine possible risk factors related to tick infestation in Abidjan district and Azaguié commune. Thus, in July 2019, thirteen (13) herds distributed in these localities were visited for tick sampling and to conduct epidemiological investigations. At each visit, ticks were harvested from 15 cattle per herd. All the farms visited were infested with ticks. 96.92% of sampled animals had ticks. A total of 1796 ticks were collected of which 89.42% (1606) were adults, 10.41% (187) were pupae and 0.17% (3) was larvae. Two species of ticks have been identified, Amblyomma variegatum with 25% of the population and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus with 75%. 96% of the cattle were infested by ticks of the species R. (B.) microplus and 56% of the cattle were infested by ticks of the species A. variegatum. The co-infestation of cattle by the two identified species was 53%. The distribution of the sexes showed that in the species A. variegatum, males were more numerous (13.44% for males and 8.76% for females). However in the species R. (B.) microplus, females were more numerous (5.08% for males and 62.3% for females).The analysis of risk factors associated with tick infestation in cattle has shown that factors such as Undefined parks, Type of pasture, Training in the use of acaricides and Presence of wild animals contribute to major ectoparasite infestations in cattle. Tick samples collected from peri-urban farms in the district of Abidjan and the locality of Azaguié as part of this study, indicate that the relatively recent introduction of the species Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus presents a threat to animal and human health.
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Introduction
Among the potentially emerging diseases, those transmitted by arthropods, particularly ticks, are very numerous. Ticks pose a number of problems inhuman and veterinary health by their direct nuisance following their bites, but also by the infectious agents they are likely to transmit (Aubry & Gaüzère, 2016). These ectoparasites playa major role inhuman and animal epidemiology. Thus, they transmit a greater variety of pathogens than any other group of arthropods and are among the most important vectors capable of infecting both humans and domestic animals (Boyard, 2007).Tick-borne diseases cause enormous economic damage to livestock farmers and according to Guerrero et al., (2014), the economic impact of ticks is major, especially in areas where cattle breeding is an important source of income. Also in terms of animal and human health, the consequences can be fatal and can even lead to death if the intervention is late or even leave physical and cognitive after-effects that can be very disabling if they are not treated early enough in humans.
To explain the spread of tick-borne diseases the study of the properties of the pathogen is therefore insufficient (Estrada-Peñaet al., 2015). And according to Brownstein et al. (2005) the notion of acarological risk must betaken into account, integrating both the notions of vector abundance in the environment and the prevalence of infection among the vector population. Given the central role of the vector in explaining cases of tick-borne diseases, knowledge of its lifestyle and distribution is an essential asset in the fight against these diseases. Tick-borne diseases pose real public health problems around the world and particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where most diseases have very often been overlooked in favour of major viral or bacterial epizootics. In the district of Abidjan and its suburbs, there is strong demographic growth followed by galloping urbanisation. According to United Nation estimates, urban dwellers accounted for one third of the world'spopulation in 1950, whereas they accounted for more than half in 2015 and will probably account for two thirds in 2050 (United Nations, 2014).In the face of this rapid urbanisation, previously isolated agricultural farms are now found close to the houses. This proximity canthus pose a threat to the population because the human-animal interface is much reduced. In the general context of assessing the infectious risk of tick-borne pathogen transmission, it is necessary to study the distribution of species present in an environment where human populations and farmed animals come into frequent contact. This study aims to identify bovine tick species in peri-urban cattle farms in Abidjan district and Azaguié commune and to determine possible risk factors related to ectoparasitic infestation.
Conclusion
The identification of tick species and the knowledge of possible risk factors related to ectoparasitic infestation are very important in the framework of the fight against these parasites and the prevention of diseases that ticks can transmit. Two tick species were identified in this study, Amblyomma variegatum with 25% of the population and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus with 75%.The analysis of risk factors associated with tick infestation in cattle has shown that factors such as undefined parks, type of pasture, training in the use of acaricides, presence of wild animals contribute to major ectoparasite infestations in cattle. Entomological and microbiological monitoring is therefore necessary as it could help to anticipate an epidemic event. Vector surveillance and tick control measures should therefore be improved as part of a One Health approach. These initiatives will therefore need to be brought together in order to map the risk and distribution of ticks in Côte d'Ivoire, as well as the pathogens they carry. This knowledge will be used to guide prevention and control actions.
