School of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
Livestock Resource Development Office, Debre Werk, Ethiopia.
Vet Med Sci. 2023 May;9(3):1318-1326. doi: 10.1002/vms3.1080. Epub 2023 Jan 30.
Small ruminant playing significant economic development and cultural roles for smallholders and reared in different agroecological systems in Ethiopia. However, ticks and tick-borne haemopathogens are major threats to the health of small ruminants leading to loss of production and productivity in Ethiopia especially in north-western Ethiopia, due to climate and agroecological system favourable to the tick survival in the area.
The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of Ixodid tick infestation and tick-borne haemopathogens, to identify the existing Ixodid tick species and to investigate major risk factors associated with tick infestation and tick-borne haemopathogens.
A cross sectional study was conducted on 396 small ruminants (sheep =198 and goats = 198). Ticks were identified to the species level according to their morphological key structures. Thin blood smear were prepared and laboratoricaly examined to investigate tick-borne haemopathogens. Logistic regression was employed to assess the association between potential risk factors with tick infestation and tick-borne haemopathogens.
The overall prevalence of tick infestation and tick-borne haemopathogens were 47.22% and 4.29%, respectively. Age, species, body condition, agroecological system and season were found significantly (p < 0.05) associated with tick infestation. Season was found to be significantly (p < 0.05) associated with occurrence of tick-borne haemopathogen. Amblyomma variegatum (18.2%) and Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi (13.4%) were the predominant tick species encountered. Anaplasma ovis, Anaplasma marginale and Babesia ovis were prevalent tick-borne haemopathogens.
The present study reported that there was higher tick infestation and tick-borne haemopathogens infections on small ruminants in the study area. Therefore, based on tick epidemiology, a strategic tick control programs were needed in this region. Further detailed studies on the role of Ixodid tick species in causing tick-borne diseases in small ruminants and their economic impact on livelihoods should be conducted.
小反刍动物在埃塞俄比亚的小农经济中扮演着重要的经济发展和文化角色，并在不同的农业生态系统中饲养。然而，蜱虫和蜱传血液病原体是小反刍动物健康的主要威胁，导致埃塞俄比亚，特别是西北部地区的生产和生产力下降，因为该地区的气候和农业生态系统有利于蜱虫的生存。
本研究的目的是确定埃塞俄比亚小反刍动物的蜱虫感染和蜱传血液病原体的流行情况，确定现有的蜱虫种类，并调查与蜱虫感染和蜱传血液病原体相关的主要风险因素。
对 396 只小反刍动物（绵羊 198 只，山羊 198 只）进行了横断面研究。根据形态学关键结构将蜱虫鉴定到种的水平。制备薄血涂片并进行实验室检查，以调查蜱传血液病原体。采用逻辑回归评估潜在风险因素与蜱虫感染和蜱传血液病原体之间的关系。
蜱虫感染和蜱传血液病原体的总流行率分别为 47.22%和 4.29%。年龄、物种、身体状况、农业生态系统和季节与蜱虫感染显著相关（p<0.05）。季节与蜱传血液病原体的发生显著相关（p<0.05）。发现主要的蜱种为变色璃眼蜱（18.2%）和边缘革蜱（13.4%）。流行的蜱传血液病原体为绵羊无浆体、边缘无浆体和绵羊巴贝斯虫。
本研究报告称，在所研究地区小反刍动物中，蜱虫感染和蜱传血液病原体感染率较高。因此，根据蜱虫流行病学，该地区需要制定战略蜱虫控制计划。应进一步详细研究蜱虫在引起小反刍动物蜱传疾病中的作用及其对生计的经济影响。
