Correction: Tick communities of cattle in smallholder rural livestock production systems in sub-Saharan Africa
Date
2023
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Parasites & Vectors
Abstract
Background The majority of the African population lives in rural areas and depends on agriculture for their liveli‑
hoods. To increase the productivity and sustainability of their farms, they need access to afordable yield-enhancing
inputs of which parasite control is of paramount importance. We therefore determined the status of current tick
species with the highest economic impact on cattle by sampling representative numbers of animals in each of seven
sub-Saharan countries.
Methods Data included tick species’ half-body counts from approximately 120 cattle at each of two districts per
country, collected four times in approximately 1 year (to include seasonality). Study sites were chosen in each country
to include high cattle density and tick burden.
Results East Africa (Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania) showed overall a higher diversity and prevalence in tick infesta‑
tions compared to West African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Nigeria). In East Africa, Amblyomma var iegatum (vector of Ehrlichia ruminantium), Rhipicephalus microplus (Babesia bovis, B. bigemina, Anaplasma marginale),
R. evertsi evertsi (A. marginale) and R. appendiculatus (Theileria parva) were the most prevalent tick species of economic
importance. While the latter species was absent in West Africa, here both A. variegatum and R. microplus occurred
in high numbers. Rhipicephalus microplus had spread to Uganda, infesting half of the cattle sampled. Rhipicepha lus microplus is known for its invasive behaviour and displacement of other blue tick species, as observed in other
East and West African countries. Individual cattle with higher body weights, as well as males, were more likely to be
infested. For six tick species, we found reduced infestation levels when hosts were treated with anti-parasiticides.
Conclusions These baseline data allow the determination of possible changes in presence and prevalence of ticks in
each of the countries targeted, which is of importance in the light of human-caused climate and habitat alterations or
anthropogenic activities. As many of the ticks in this study are vectors of important pathogens, but also, as cattle may
act as end hosts for ticks of importance to human health, our study will help a wide range of stakeholders to provide
recommendations for tick infestation surveillance and prevention
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Amblyomma variegatum, Rhipicephalus microplus, Babesia bovis, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Sub-sahara Africa