Burden and spatial distribution of ticks among cattle grazing along the buffer zone of Lake Nakuwa in Kaliro District

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was done to determine tick infestation levels and factors responsible for maintaining high infestations among cattle grazing along the buffer zones of Lake Nakuwa, in Kaliro district. Due to the lack of individual farmer owned grazing land, extensive communal grazing of cattle is practiced along buffer zones of Lake Nakuwa. This study was done in 8 villages from 4 sub-counties. Half body count of ticks infesting cattle was done. The factors responsible for maintaining high tick infestations were determined using participatory methods (Focus Group Discussions and Key Informant interviews) and administration of a questionnaire to 200 farmers. Mean tick infestation levels were found to be 21.6±3.7 ticks per head of cattle of which 38.8% were Ambylomma variegatum, 33.7% Rhipicephalus decoloratus; 20.1% Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and 7.4% Rhipicephalus eversti eversti. There was a highly significant difference in the abundance of tick species (F=65,6; df 3,21; P=0.0000). There was no significant difference of tick abundance across villages (F=2.45; df 4,21; P=0.08). Anaplasmosis, babesiosis, heartwater and East Coast Fever were the major Tick-Borne Diseases (TBDs) in the descending order as reported by farmers. The risk factors promoting high tick infestations were: no organized tick control practices in the area, farmers’ lack of knowledge and awareness about tick species, biology, population dynamics and tick control methods; and communal open mobile grazing of cattle. It was recommended that education and sensitization of farmers about the dangers of tick species that infest their cattle should be done. This should be coupled with transfer of appropriate sustainable communal tick control practices to cattle farmers. Further studies should be done to determine the prevalence of TBDs among cattle by carrying out specific polymerase reaction chain tests. Also, the economic costs caused by ticks and TBDs on cattle should be determined to assess the urgency needed to control them among cattle grazing along buffer zone of Lake Nakuwa.