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Etiang P, Musoba A, Nalumenya D, Ndekezi C, Bbira J, Ochwo S, Tweyongyere R, Muhanguzi D. Distribution and prevalence of ixodid tick species (Acari: Ixodidae) infesting cattle in Karamoja region of northeastern Uganda. BMC Vet Res 2024; 20:50. [PMID: 38326882 PMCID: PMC10851484 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-023-03802-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ticks and tick-borne diseases (TTBDs) are a significant threat to livestock production in sub-Saharan Africa. Transhumance pastoralism practiced in Karamoja region and other factors like cattle trade, communal grazing and the presence of wildlife predispose cattle to TTBDs. Tick species abundance and distribution data can be used as a tool for early disease diagnosis and inform tick control strategies. However, these data for north-eastern Uganda are currently limited; previous surveys were relatively localized and targeted fewer cattle kraals and numbers. METHODS We randomly collected tick specimens from 1,534 cattle spread across Karamoja region in both the peak month of the rainy (May 2020) and the dry (February2021) seasons. The ticks were identified using morpho-taxonomic keys and the tick species identities confirmed by the 16 S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS A collection of 18,637 ticks was examined and fifteen tick species from three genera (ten Rhipicephalus; three Amblyomma; two Hyalomma species) were identified. Rhipicephalus appendiculatus was the most dominant (37.9%) tick species, followed by Amblyomma variegatum (32.3%); A. lepidum (17.3%); R. evertsi evertsi (7.8%); and R. decoloratus (1.4%). Eight of these tick species were ubiquitous in the study districts while six were found in isolated areas. The peak month of the dry season collection was associated with a higher proportion of tick-infested cattle (91%) compared to the peak month of the rainy season (89.8%); a difference that was not found statistically significant (χ2 = 0.5077, n = 1385, p = 0.476). The overall cattle infestation rate was mainly dominated by five tick species namely: A. variegatum (55%), R. appendiculatus (53%), A. lepidum (41%), R. evertsi (22%), and R. decoloratus (8%). The proportion of tick-infested cattle was highest in Napak District (95.4%) and lowest in Amudat District (80.9%) during the peak month of the rainy season. Napak and Amudat Districts also had the highest and lowest proportion of tick-infested cattle (94.8% and 80.7% respectively) during the peak month of the dry season. Rhipicephalus microplus was confirmed in Amudat, Kaabong and Napak districts. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates high tick infestation rates in cattle by a battery of tick species in Karamoja region. We identified both R. microplus and R. decoloratus which indicates that R. microplus has recently been introduced in this region. This calls for effective tick control responses to prevent further spread of this invasive cattle tick specie.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Etiang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (COVAB), Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Abubakar Musoba
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (COVAB), Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | - David Nalumenya
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (COVAB), Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Christian Ndekezi
- Medical Research Council, Uganda Virus Research Institute & London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (MRC/UVRI & LSHTM), Research Unit, P.O. Box 49, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Johnson Bbira
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (COVAB), Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Sylvester Ochwo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (COVAB), Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
- Center for Animal Health and Food Safety, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Robert Tweyongyere
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (COVAB), Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Dennis Muhanguzi
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (COVAB), Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
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Addo SO, Bentil RE, Baako BOA, Addae CA, Larbi JA, Baidoo PK, Wilson MD, Asoala V, Oduro D, Mate S, Diclaro Ii JW, Dadzie SK. First record of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus in Ghana, a potential risk to livestock production. EXPERIMENTAL & APPLIED ACAROLOGY 2023; 89:475-483. [PMID: 37052725 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-023-00793-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Ticks are a public health threat due to their tendency to spread pathogens that affect humans and animals. With reports of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus invasion in neighbouring countries, there is the risk of this species invading Ghana through livestock trade. Previous identification of tick species in Ghana has been based on morphological identification, which can be ineffective, especially with damaged tick specimens or engorged nymphs. This study focused on the Kassena-Nankana District, which serves as a trade route for cattle into Ghana, to determine the presence of R. microplus. Three genera of ticks were identified as Amblyomma (70.9%), Hyalomma (21.3%) and Rhipicephalus (7.8%). The engorged nymphs that could not be identified morphologically were analyzed using primers that target the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene. This study reports the first record of R. (B.) microplus in Ghana. Furthermore, R. microplus constituted 54.8% of the Boophilus species collected in this study. This finding is an addition to the diverse tick species previously collected in Ghana, most of which are of veterinary and public health importance. With reports of acaricide resistance in R. microplus and its role in spreading infectious pathogens, the detection of this species in Ghana cannot be overlooked. Nationwide surveillance will be essential to ascertain its distribution, its effects on cattle production, and the control measures adopted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seth Offei Addo
- Parasitology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, College of Science, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - Ronald Essah Bentil
- Parasitology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | | | - Charlotte Adwoa Addae
- Parasitology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - John Asiedu Larbi
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, College of Science, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Philip Kweku Baidoo
- Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, College of Science, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Michael David Wilson
- Parasitology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Victor Asoala
- Navrongo Health Research Centre, Upper East Region, Navrongo, Ghana
| | - Daniel Oduro
- Department of Animal Biology and Conservation Science, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
- Immunology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Suzanne Mate
- U.S. Army Emerging Infectious Diseases Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Joseph W Diclaro Ii
- Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center; Center for Disease Control and Prevention Detachment, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Samuel K Dadzie
- Parasitology Department, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
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Zannou OM, Da Re D, Ouedraogo AS, Biguezoton AS, Abatih E, Yao KP, Farougou S, Lempereur L, Vanwambeke SO, Saegerman C. Modelling habitat suitability of the invasive tick Rhipicephalus microplus in West Africa. Transbound Emerg Dis 2022; 69:2938-2951. [PMID: 34985810 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 12/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Ticks have medical and economic importance due to their ability to transmit pathogens to humans and animals. In tropical and sub-tropical countries, tick-borne diseases (TBD) are among the most important diseases affecting livestock and humans. The fast spread of ticks and TBD requires a quick development and application of efficient prevention and/or control programs. Therefore, prior investigations on TBD and related vectors epidemiology, for instance, through accurate epidemiological models, are mandatory. This study aims to develop models to forecast suitable habitat for Rhipicephalus microplus distribution in West Africa. Tick occurrences were assembled from 10 different studies carried out in six West African countries in the past decade. Six statistical models (maximum entropy in a single model and generalised linear model, generalised additive model, random forest, boosted regression tree and support vector machine model in an ensemble model) were applied and compared to predict the habitat suitability of R. microplus distribution in West Africa. Each model was evaluated with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), the true skill statistic (TSS) and the Boyce index (BI). The selected models had good performance according to their AUC (above .8), TSS (above .7) and BI (above .8). Temperature played a key role in MaxEnt model, whereas normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) was the most important variable in the ensemble model. The model predictions showed coastal countries of West Africa as more suitable for R. microplus. However, some Sahelian areas seems also favourable. We stress the importance of vector surveillance and control in countries that have not yet detected R. microplus but are in the areas predicted to host suitable habitat. Indeed, awareness-raising and training of different stakeholders must be reinforced for better prevention and control of this tick in these different countries according to their status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier M Zannou
- Research Unit in Epidemiology and Risk Analysis applied to veterinary sciences (UREAR-ULiège), Fundamental and Applied Research for Animal and Health (FARAH) Center, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liege, Belgium.,Vector-borne Diseases and Biodiversity Unit (UMaVeB), International Research and Development Center on Livestock in Sub-humid Areas (CIRDES), Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
| | - Daniele Da Re
- Georges Lemaître Center for Earth and Climate Research, Earth and Life Institute, UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Achille S Ouedraogo
- Vector-borne Diseases and Biodiversity Unit (UMaVeB), International Research and Development Center on Livestock in Sub-humid Areas (CIRDES), Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.,Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animal and Health (FARAH) Center, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Abel S Biguezoton
- Vector-borne Diseases and Biodiversity Unit (UMaVeB), International Research and Development Center on Livestock in Sub-humid Areas (CIRDES), Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
| | - Emmanuel Abatih
- Department of Applied Mathematics, Computer Sciences and Statistics, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium
| | | | - Souaïbou Farougou
- Communicable Diseases Research Unit (URMaT), Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Republic of Benin
| | - Laetitia Lempereur
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animal and Health (FARAH) Center, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Sophie O Vanwambeke
- Georges Lemaître Center for Earth and Climate Research, Earth and Life Institute, UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Claude Saegerman
- Research Unit in Epidemiology and Risk Analysis applied to veterinary sciences (UREAR-ULiège), Fundamental and Applied Research for Animal and Health (FARAH) Center, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liege, Belgium
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Bonnet SI, Nadal C. Experimental Infection of Ticks: An Essential Tool for the Analysis of Babesia Species Biology and Transmission. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10111403. [PMID: 34832559 PMCID: PMC8620118 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10111403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Babesiosis is one of the most important tick-borne diseases in veterinary health, impacting mainly cattle, equidae, and canidae, and limiting the development of livestock industries worldwide. In humans, babesiosis is considered to be an emerging disease mostly due to Babesia divergens in Europe and Babesia microti in America. Despite this importance, our knowledge of Babesia sp. transmission by ticks is incomplete. The complexity of vectorial systems involving the vector, vertebrate host, and pathogen, as well as the complex feeding biology of ticks, may be part of the reason for the existing gaps in our knowledge. Indeed, this complexity renders the implementation of experimental systems that are as close as possible to natural conditions and allowing the study of tick-host-parasite interactions, quite difficult. However, it is unlikely that the development of more effective and sustainable control measures against babesiosis will emerge unless significant progress can be made in understanding this tripartite relationship. The various methods used to date to achieve tick transmission of Babesia spp. of medical and veterinary importance under experimental conditions are reviewed and discussed here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah I. Bonnet
- Animal Health Department, INRAE, 37380 Nouzilly, France
- Functional Genetics of Infectious Diseases Unit, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR 2000, Université de Paris, 75015 Paris, France
- Correspondence:
| | - Clémence Nadal
- Epidemiology Unit, Laboratory for Animal Health, University Paris Est, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France;
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
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Muhanguzi D, Byaruhanga J, Amanyire W, Ndekezi C, Ochwo S, Nkamwesiga J, Mwiine FN, Tweyongyere R, Fourie J, Madder M, Schetters T, Horak I, Juleff N, Jongejan F. Invasive cattle ticks in East Africa: morphological and molecular confirmation of the presence of Rhipicephalus microplus in south-eastern Uganda. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:165. [PMID: 32245511 PMCID: PMC7118885 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04043-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rhipicephalus microplus, an invasive tick species of Asian origin and the main vector of Babesia species, is considered one of the most widespread ectoparasites of livestock. The tick has spread from its native habitats on translocated livestock to large parts of the tropical world, where it has replaced some of the local populations of Rhipicephalus decoloratus ticks. Although the tick was reported in Uganda 70 years ago, it has not been found in any subsequent surveys. This study was carried out to update the national tick species distribution on livestock in Uganda as a basis for tick and tick-borne disease control, with particular reference to R. microplus. METHODS The study was carried out in Kadungulu, Serere district, south-eastern Uganda, which is dominated by small scale livestock producers. All the ticks collected from 240 cattle from six villages were identified microscopically. Five R. microplus specimens were further processed for phylogenetic analysis and species confirmation. RESULTS The predominant tick species found on cattle was Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (86.9 %; n = 16,509). Other species found were Amblyomma variegatum (7.2 %; n = 1377), Rhipicephalus evertsi (2.3 %; n = 434) and R. microplus (3.6 %; n = 687). Phylogenetic analysis of the 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA and ITS2 gene sequences of R. microplus confirmed the morphological identification. CONCLUSIONS It is concluded that R. microplus has replaced R. decoloratus in the sampled villages in Kadungulu sub-county, since the latter was not any longer found in this area. There is currently no livestock movement policy in force in Uganda, which could possibly limit the further spread of R. microplus ticks. Future surveys, but also retrospective surveys of museum specimens, will reveal the extent of distribution of R. microplus in Uganda and also for how long this tick has been present on livestock without being noticed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Muhanguzi
- College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Joseph Byaruhanga
- College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Wilson Amanyire
- College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Christian Ndekezi
- College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Sylvester Ochwo
- College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Joseph Nkamwesiga
- College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Frank Norbert Mwiine
- College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Robert Tweyongyere
- College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Josephus Fourie
- ClinVet International (Pty) Ltd, P.O. Box 11186, Universitas, 9321, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Maxime Madder
- Clinglobal, B03/04, The Tamarin Commercial Hub, Jacaranda Avenue, Tamarin, 90903, Mauritius. .,Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa.
| | - Theo Schetters
- Clinglobal, B03/04, The Tamarin Commercial Hub, Jacaranda Avenue, Tamarin, 90903, Mauritius.,Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa
| | - Ivan Horak
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa
| | - Nick Juleff
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Frans Jongejan
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa.,Utrecht Centre for Tick-borne Diseases (UCTD), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 1, 3584 CL, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Almeria S, Castella J, Ferrer D, Sparagano O, Estrada-Peña A. First report of Babesia bovis
in Spain. Vet Rec 2001. [DOI: 10.1136/vr.149.23.716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- S. Almeria
- Veterinary Faculty (Parasitology); University of Barcelona; 08193 Bellaterra Barcelona Spain
| | - J. Castella
- Veterinary Faculty (Parasitology); University of Barcelona; 08193 Bellaterra Barcelona Spain
| | - D. Ferrer
- Veterinary Faculty (Parasitology); University of Barcelona; 08193 Bellaterra Barcelona Spain
| | - O. Sparagano
- Department of Agriculture; University of Newcastle; Newcastle upon Tyne NEI 7RU
| | - A. Estrada-Peña
- Veterinary Faculty (Parasitology); University of Zaragoza; 50013 Zaragoza Spain
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Bock RE, Lew AE, Minchin CM, Jeston PJ, Jorgensen WK. Application of PCR assays to determine the genotype of Babesia bovis parasites isolated from cattle with clinical babesiosis soon after vaccination against tick fever. Aust Vet J 2000; 78:179-81. [PMID: 10860157 DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2000.tb10588.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To demonstrate the value of PCR assays to determine the genotypes of Babesia bovis in cattle with clinical signs of babesiosis within 3 weeks after vaccination against tick fever. DESIGN Samples from 5 cases of babesiosis in cattle soon after vaccination against tick fever were analysed in two PCR assays. PROCEDURE Parasite DNA was purified from blood taken from cattle with signs of babesiosis within 3 weeks of vaccination against tick fever. DNA was also prepared from the tissues of animals that died of babesiosis. Two PCR assays that amplify repeat sequences of DNA within the B bovis genes, Bv80 and BvVA1, were used to differentiate the genotypes of field isolates and vaccine strains of B bovis. RESULTS One of the five cases of babesiosis was found to be caused by a vaccine strain, but PCR analyses showed that the predominant isolate in the other four cases was not the vaccine strain. CONCLUSIONS PCR assays on the DNA of B bovis obtained from the blood or tissues of cattle clinically affected with tick fever within 3 weeks after vaccination are useful to distinguish between vaccine strains and field isolates as the source of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- R E Bock
- Tick Fever Research Centre, Wacol, Queensland.
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