IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN VETERINARY EPIDEMIO LOGY

Abstract

Ixodid ticks are economically very detrimental since they can reduce productivity, as a vector of disease and cause of death. Therefore, the current study was aimed at assessing the epidemiology of Ixodid ticks in cattle and in-vivo comparative efficacy of deltamethrin and ivermectin in Ofa district of Wolaita zone, southern Ethiopia, from February 2023 to September 2023. Both cross-sectional and experimental study were conducted to estimate the prevalence and potential risk factors by stratified sampling technique on 768 cattle, and field trial on sixty naturally tick-infested cattle to assess efficacy of deltamethri n and ivermectin respectively. 64.71% of sampled cattle was infested by one or more Ixod id tick species and five Ixodid tick genera Amblyomma (77.66%), Rh.(Boophilus) (47.68%) , Rhipicephalus (16.29%), Hyalomma (1.60%) and Haemaphysalis (0.60%) were identifie d. Furthermore, totally eight species in chronological order: A.varigatum (76.86%), Rh. (Boophilus) decoloratus (47.68%), R. evertsi (11.67%), A. cohaerence (4.42%), R. pulchelus (3.62%), Hy. rufipes (1.60%), R. sanguineus (1.00%) and Ha. leachi (0.60%) species were identified. Based on multivariable logistic regression to determine potential risk factors of Ixodid tick on cattle, risk factors like breed, body score, stock size, stock diversity, agro-ecology and management shown statistically significant positive association while regular tick control program and scavenging chicken were factors statistically significant but negative association with Ixodid tick infestation on cattle. Repeated measures one way ANOVA and Abbot’s formula was applied to evaluate if there is significant difference between means of treatment groups and control group with respect to time period, and efficacy of used acaricides respectively. Deltamethrin and ivermectin shown statistically significant reduction of ticks on post treatment and fulfills recommended cut-off point (90%); however, deltamethrin had a shorter residual effect compared to ivermectin. Questionnaire survey showed 89.71% of the communities are livestock producers; however, only 31.67% of cattle owners were take their cattle to veterinary clinic for only tick infestation. The community should be aware as Ixodid tick infestation as a serious issue of health, production and welfare of cattle, and ivermectin was comparatively suggested acaricides with strategic selection