Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, University of Fort Hare, P. Bag X1314, Alice, 5700, South Africa.
Dohne Agricultural Development Institute, Private Bag X15, Stutterheim, 4930, South Africa.
Parasitol Res. 2021 Apr;120(4):1183-1191. doi: 10.1007/s00436-020-07024-4. Epub 2021 Jan 6.
A survey to determine the prevalence of tick-borne diseases (TBDs) and ticks infesting cattle was conducted in the communal areas of the north-eastern region of the Eastern Cape Province (ECP) between January 2019 and October 2019. Tick counts, packed cell volume (PCV), body condition scores (BCS), and serological test for TBDs were seasonally conducted in communally grazed cattle (n = 240) in Joe Gqabi district in two local municipalities (Elundini and Senqu). A standard indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was used to determine antibodies to Babesia bigemina, Babesia bovis, and Ehrlichia ruminantium and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed for antibodies to Anaplasma marginale detection. The highest tick loads were observed on cattle during the hot-wet and post-rainy seasons and lowest during the cool-dry season. The E. ruminantium prevalence in Elundini was 16% and 14% in post-rainy and hot-dry seasons respectively and 15% at Senqu during the post-rainy season. B. bigemina prevalence was highest at Elundini (18%) and Senqu (16%) during the post-rainy season and hot-wet season respectively. Cattle BCS was negatively correlated with E. ruminantium (P < 0.01; r = - 0.203), B. bovis (P < 0.01; r = - 0.125), and A. marginale (P < 0.01; r = - 0.122) seroprevalence. The PCV was negatively correlated with B. bigemina (P < 0.01; r = - 0.138) seroprevalence. On the other hand, E. ruminantium was positively correlated with Amblyomma hebraeum (P < 0.05; r = 0.112) infestation, while B. bovis (P < 0.05; r = 0.134) and B. bigemina (P < 0.05; r = 0.188) were positively correlated with Rhipicephalus microplus infestation, and B. bigemina (P < 0.05; r = 0.077) was positively correlated with Rhipicephalus decoloratus infestation. Our study reports for the first time the presence of R. microplus in the study area. Further research is, however, needed to better understand seroprevalence and the transmission mode of TBDs to cattle so that effective disease control measures can be developed.
2019 年 1 月至 10 月期间，在东开普省东北部地区的社区进行了一项调查，以确定蜱传疾病（TBD）和寄生在牛身上的蜱的流行情况。在乔加比地区的两个地方市政当局（埃伦迪尼和森奎），对季节性放牧的牛（n = 240）进行了蜱计数、红细胞压积（PCV）、身体状况评分（BCS）和 TBD 血清学检测。使用标准间接荧光抗体试验（IFAT）来确定抗巴贝西虫、牛巴贝斯虫和无形体的抗体，并用间接酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）来检测抗边缘无浆体的抗体。在炎热潮湿和雨后季节，牛身上的蜱虫数量最多，在凉爽干燥的季节最少。埃伦迪尼的无形体患病率分别为 16%和 14%，雨后和炎热干燥季节，森奎的无形体患病率分别为 15%。雨后季节，巴贝西虫的患病率在埃伦迪尼（18%）和森奎（16%）最高。雨后和炎热潮湿季节，巴贝斯虫的患病率在埃伦迪尼（18%）和森奎（16%）最高。牛的 BCS 与无形体（P < 0.01；r = - 0.203）、牛巴贝斯虫（P < 0.01；r = - 0.125）和边缘无浆体（P < 0.01；r = - 0.122）血清阳性率呈负相关。PCV 与双芽巴贝斯虫（P < 0.01；r = - 0.138）血清阳性率呈负相关。另一方面，无形体与硬蜱（P < 0.05；r = 0.112）的感染呈正相关，而牛巴贝斯虫（P < 0.05；r = 0.134）和双芽巴贝斯虫（P < 0.05；r = 0.188）与璃眼蜱的感染呈正相关，双芽巴贝斯虫（P < 0.05；r = 0.077）与无色库蠓的感染呈正相关。我们的研究首次报告了在研究区域存在璃眼蜱。然而，需要进一步的研究来更好地了解 TBD 对牛的血清阳性率和传播模式，以便制定有效的疾病控制措施。
