Yenew Aschalew Shitu, Dagnachew Nigatu Shimelis, Seyoum Zewdu, Chanie Mersha
Department of Veterinary Biomedical and Paraclinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Vet Med Sci. 2025 Mar;11(2):e70293. doi: 10.1002/vms3.70293.
Ticks and tick-borne haemopathogens are major obstacles to cattle production causing significant economic losses in Ethiopia.
The objective of this study was to determine the epidemiology of ticks and tick-borne haemopathogens in cattle in Northwest Ethiopia.
Cross-sectional studies were conducted in dry and short rainy seasons. A stratified random sampling technique was employed. Accordingly, a total of 392 cattle were examined. During sampling parameters like; sex, age, breed, body condition score, district and production system were recorded for each animal. Ticks were collected from each animal and examined under stereomicroscope for species identification. The blood sample was taken from the ear vein by pricking with a lancet and then thin smear was made with a frosted microscopic slide and stained with Giemsa for the detection of haemopathogen infections with 100× oil immersion magnification.
Of the 392 cattle examined, 87.8% and 17.1% were positive for tick infestation and tick-borne haemopathogens, respectively. The prevalence of tick and tick-borne haemopathogens was 93.9% and 27% in the short rainy season and 81.6% and 7.1% in the dry season, respectively. Amblyomma, Rhipicephalus, Hyalomma and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) genera, and A. variegatum, A. lepidum, Rh. evertsi, Hy. rufipes and Rh. (B.) decoloratus species were identified. Rhipicephalus (B.) decoloratus was the most prevalent (66.1%) and abundant (38%) tick species. Season, district, age and sex showed significant (p < 0.05) associations with tick infestations. Babesia bigemina (10%), Anaplasma marginale (5.4%), Theileria species (3.1%) and Anaplasma centrale (1.3%) haemopopathogens were detected. Except, for Anaplasma central, they had a significant (p < 0.05) association with season.
Ticks and tick-borne haemopathogens were found to be prevalent and had seasonal dynamics. Therefore, strategic and integrated control approaches against the vector and the parasite should be designed.
蜱虫及蜱传播的血液病原体是埃塞俄比亚养牛业的主要障碍，造成了巨大的经济损失。
本研究的目的是确定埃塞俄比亚西北部牛群中蜱虫及蜱传播的血液病原体的流行病学情况。
在旱季和短雨季进行横断面研究。采用分层随机抽样技术。据此，共检查了392头牛。在采样过程中，记录每头牛的性别、年龄、品种、身体状况评分、所在地区和生产系统等参数。从每头牛身上采集蜱虫，在体视显微镜下检查以进行种类鉴定。用采血针从耳静脉采集血样，然后用磨砂载玻片制作薄涂片，并用吉姆萨染色，在100倍油镜下检测血液病原体感染情况。
在检查的392头牛中，蜱虫感染阳性率和蜱传播血液病原体阳性率分别为87.8%和17.1%。蜱虫和蜱传播血液病原体的患病率在短雨季分别为93.9%和27%，在旱季分别为81.6%和7.1%。已鉴定出硬蜱属、扇头蜱属、璃眼蜱属和牛蜱属，以及变异革蜱、鳞纹硬蜱、埃氏扇头蜱、红足璃眼蜱和无色牛蜱等种类。无色牛蜱是最常见（66.1%）且数量最多（38%）的蜱虫种类。季节、地区、年龄和性别与蜱虫感染有显著（p<0.05）关联。检测到双芽巴贝斯虫（10%）、边缘无浆体（5.4%）、泰勒虫属（3.1%）和中央无浆体（1.3%）等血液病原体。除中央无浆体外，它们与季节有显著（p<0.05）关联。
发现蜱虫和蜱传播血液病原体普遍存在且具有季节性动态变化。因此，应制定针对媒介和寄生虫的战略和综合控制措施。
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