Rhipicephalus microplusand its vector-borne haemoparasites in Guinea: further species expansion in West Africa

Abstract

Rhipicephalus microplus is an ixodid tick with a pantropical distribution that represents a serious threat to livestock. West Africa was free of this tick until 2007, when its introduction into Benin was reported. Shortly thereafter, the further invasion of this tick into West African countries was demonstrated. In this paper, we describe the first detection of R. microplus in Guinea and list the vector-borne haemoparasites that were detected in the invader and indigenous Boophilus species.In 2018, we conducted a small-scale survey of ticks infesting cattle in three administrative regions of Guinea: N`Zerekore, Faranah, and Kankan. The tick species were identified by examining their morphological characteristics and by sequencing their COI gene and ITS-2 gene fragments. R. microplus was found in each studied region. In the ticks, we found DNA of Babesia bigemina, Anaplasma marginale, Anaplasma platys, and Ehrlichia spp. The results of this study indicate that R. microplus was introduced into Guinea with cows from Mali and/or Ivory Coast.

Tick Fauna and Associated Rickettsia, Theileria, and Babesia spp. in Domestic Animals in Sudan (North Kordofan and Kassala States)

“…This is clearly illustrated by the introduction of Rhipicephalus microplus , vector of the cattle parasites Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina , into several African countries, which led to displacement of native Rhipicephalus spp. and may result in increased Babesia transmission [ 8 , 9 ].…”

Unraveling the epidemiology of tick-borne infections in cattle and the potential impact of a novel biopesticide in coastal Kenya

“…In recent decades, the geographical range of R. microplus tick populations in Africa has expanded dramatically (Adakal et al, 2013;Madder et al, 2011;Makenov et al, 2021;Nyabongo et al, 2021;Silatsa et al, 2019). Additionally, the spread of TBPs to new geographical areas in Africa continues to be reported, including A. centrale, T. parva, T.…”