Untitled

Abstract

Studies on seasonality and population dynamics of ticks on indigenous cattle and their crosses (calves) were carried out in Buruli Ranching Scheme, Nabiswera, Luwero district of Uganda on three treatment groups of animals: group 1 (twice a week dipping), group 2 (once a month dipping) and group 3 (no tick control). During this study, four major species of ticks of economic importance were recorded in decreasing order of abundance: Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, Amblyomma variegatum and Boophilus decoloratus. Of these ticks, a seasonal pattern of activity was only observed in R. appendiculatus ticks, with peak activities occurring during rainy seasons. Greater numbers of ticks were recorded on cows than calves in the three treatment groups, with the exception of A. variegatum where the reverse occurred. The mean numbers of ticks per animal were highly significantly different (p < 0.01) when group 1 animals were compared with group 2 and 3 animals. However, no significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed in mean tick numbers between group 2 and 3 animals. Highly significant differences (p < 0.01) were observed in mean tick numbers on cows and calves (more than 12 months old) in different calving seasons. The state of lactation only affected tick counts on cows in group 1; significantly more ticks (p < 0.01) were observed in lactating than non-lactating cows. Furthermore, significantly greater (p < 0.05) numbers of ticks (with the exception of B. decoloratus) were recorded during the second year of study (March 1992-May 1993) than the first year (January 1991-February 1992), despite lower rainfall during the former period.

Tick infestation patterns in free ranging African buffalo (Syncercus caffer): Effects of host innate immunity and niche segregation among tick species

“…Our finding that older buffalo carried higher tick burdens than younger animals is consistent with previous studies in cattle (Okello-Onen et al, 1999), impala (Gallivan et al, 1995), roe deer (Vor et al, 2010), dogs and rabbits (Brown, 1984). This pattern may simply be due to larger size of adult buffalo, offering more habitat for ectoparasites; or grooming by their dam may reduce tick burdens in juveniles (Okello-Onen et al, 1999).…”

“…Seasonal differences in exposure or susceptibility to questing ticks may play a role; but the two buffalo herds we accessed also have distinct home ranges and might thus experience differences in tick exposure and susceptibility based on the habitat they utilize and resources available to them. All of the tick species reported here show pronounced seasonal abundance patterns ( R. appendiculatus : Okello-Onen et al, 1999; A. hebraeum , R. e. evertsi : Horak et al, 1983). Our results are consistent with Horak et al (1987), who found A. hebraeum burdens to be higher during the dry season.…”

“…This pattern may simply be due to larger size of adult buffalo, offering more habitat for ectoparasites; or grooming by their dam may reduce tick burdens in juveniles (Okello-Onen et al, 1999). Literature on the evolution of parasite-defense grooming in ungulates also suggests a “body size principle”, based on the recognition that smaller animals, with a greater surface area-to-mass ratio, may incur higher costs for a given density of tick infestation relative to larger ones (Hart et al, 1992).…”

Distribution of ticks infesting ruminants and risk factors associated with high tick prevalence in livestock farms in the semi-arid and arid agro-ecological zones of Pakistan

“…The lower tick burdens recorded in calves could be due to a combination of factors, including the frequent grooming of calves, especially head, ears and neck regions, by their dams and the smaller surface area of younger animals as compared to adults [54]. Furthermore, young animals seem to be more capable of protecting themselves from ticks by innate and cell-mediated immunity [55], although it must be stressed that we did not evaluate the immune status of the animals in our study.…”

Potential of Traditional Knowledge of Plants in the Management of Arthropods in Livestock Industry with Focus on (Acari) Ticks

“…Unfortunately, synthetic chemical acaricides have long become unsustainable to use in T&TBDs' control and management interventions [23, 26–29]. Such compounds have suffered from a number of drawbacks, including acaricide resistance in ticks, their rocketing costs, pollution of the environment and food products (meat, blood, and milk) with toxic residues, deleterious effects on nontarget organisms, creation of an enzootically unstable disease situation, and the uncertainty of new acaricidal molecules being produced in the near future due to prohibitive costs of investment in research and development by the manufacturing firms [30]. Additionally, the efficacy of some acaricides/ectoparasiticides against some ectoparasites became questionable [31].…”