DETERMINATION OF PREVALENCE OF TICKS AND TICK- BORNE DISEASES IN INDIGENOUS BREEDS OF CATTLE IN PASTORAL AND MIXED CROP-LIVESTOCK-FARMING SYSTEMS OF NAKASEKE AND NAKASONGOLA DISTRICTS
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Date
2014
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Abstract
A cross-sectional study was done between July and September 2011, in the cattle-corridor districts of Nakaseke and Nakasongola to deterrnine prevalence of ticks and tick-borne
diseases (TfBDs) in indigenous breeds of cattle in pastoral and mixed crop-livestock arming systems of Nakaseke and Nakasongola It was also undertaken to understand the
perspective of local conununities and extension workers on 'I*I'BDs and the management practices they employed to control them. The farming systems under study were pastoral and
mixed aop-livestock faming systems. An open ended questionnaire was admninstered to capture information about cormnon cattle diseases, their clinical signs and symptoms,
seasonal occurrence and out-breaks ITBDs, indigenous and modem management and control practices and their effectiveness among others. A total of 3600 questionnaires were
admninistered to 3600 households, 1800 in each that is, of the two districts.
The tick challenge and spectrum of species were assessed on one side of animal body. Thprevalent tick species were collected from different predilection sites and were further
identified to species in the laboratory.The relationship between tick burden and disease out-break, rainfall patterns, seaso~al
outbreaks and efficiency of treatment methods among others was deter·rnined and analysed.The results showed that R.appendiculatus was the most abundant tick species, followed by A.
variegatum and lastly R. evertsi evertsi and their population varied greatly based on the seasons. In pastoral farming system, no ticks were found on calves below 6 months old,
probably due to over-confinement in calf pens. The prevalence of T. parva was below 20% in calves below 4 months old, thereafter rising to 65% at 5 months, and then dropping to 200/0 from the age of 6 to 9 months. In mixed crop-livestock far111ing system, all age groups of I cattle were exposed to tick challenge. The prevalence of T. parva increased from 1 month old
calf reaching a peak in 2-3 months old calves, but drastically dropped in calves 4 months old.
Thereafter, it gradually built up to 70% in animals 7 .months old. licks were managed on a regular basis using acaricides, but the tick load on most animals was high due to application
of under-strength concentration of acaricides. This was probably due to ignorance or financial difficulties, which could result in development of widespread acaricide resistance in ticks.
The research findings can be enriched by conducting more studies to cover all the seasons.
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DISSERTATION FOR gULU UNIVERSITY
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Kwesiga Stephen ( 2014). DETERMINATION OF PREVALENCE OF TICKS AND TICK- BORNE DISEASES IN INDIGENOUS BREEDS OF CATTLE IN PASTORAL AND MIXED CROP-LIVESTOCK-FARMING SYSTEMS OF NAKASEKE AND NAKASONGOLA DISTRICTS