TICK INFESTATION IN CATTLE IN THREE DISTRICTS OF METEKEL ZONE BENISHANGUL-GUMUZ REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA: ITS PREVALENCE, CONTROL STRATEGIES AND MONETARY IMPACTS
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2019-06
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Abstract
Ticks cause substantial losses in cattle production, in terms of diseases, reduced productivity and fertility and often death, and are economically the most important ecto-parasites of cattle. A cross-sectional study was conducted in three districts (Dangur, Mandura and Pawi) of Metekel zone, Benishangul-Gumuz regional state from November, 2018 to May, 2019 to investigate the abundance and compostion of tick species in cattle to assess control strategies and financial losses by infestation of ticks. Out of 1052 local breed of cattle randomly selected from three districts, 798 (75.9%) of them were found infested with one or more tick species. A total of 8559 adult ticks were collected from the animal body and identified to different genera and species. Six tick species were morphologically identified from four genera. Among the four genera 24.3%, 40.5%, 31.9% and 3.2% were Amblyomma, Rhipicephalus, Rh. boophilus and Hyalomma, respectively. The relative prevalence of each species was Amblyomma lepidium (6.8%), Amblyomma variegatum (17.5%), Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus (31.9%), Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi (27.5%), Rhipicephalus pulchellus (13%) and Hyalomma marginatum rufipes (3.2%). The host related risk factors such as sex, age and body conformations of cattle were statistically significant associated with tick infestation (P value = 0.05). Amblyomma, Rhipicephalus and Hyalomma species were abundant under tail, udder/scrotum, brisket, and ano-genital area while Rhipicephalus boophilus decoloratus preferred dewlap, brisket, belly, leg, and ear. In the study districts acaricide were commonly used for treatment during the time of tick infestation. Monetary losses associated with tick infestation were estimated in terms of production losses, hide losses, treatment cost and marketability reduction cost. Effective tick control program should be formulated and implemented based on the distribution pattern of ticks and factors responsible for their distribution in addition enhance skills of farmers about the effective dose and application of acaricides.
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Tick Species, Control strategies, Monetary impacts