PREVALENCE OF CATTLE TICKS AND FIELD TREATMENT TRIAL OF ACARICIDE DIAZINON AGAINST CATTLE TICKS IN SHAMBU TOWN, WESTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Ticks are responsible for severe economic losses through direct effect of blood sucking and indirectly as vector of pathogens. The information on tick species composition and prevalence are very essential to assess the economic loss encountered due to tick infestation and also to identify the appropriate measure of tick control. Hence, the objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of cattle tick, species composition and evaluate the efficacy of diazinon against cattle ticks in Shambu town. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to May 2016 in Shambu town. A total of 361 cattle were selected and examined for tick infestation on cattle. Then, the ticks were collected and identified in Shambu veterinary clinic and further confirmation was done in Sabata National Animal Diagnostic and Investigation Center. A randomized control trial was done to evaluate the residual efficacy of diazinon. Eighty four cattle were included for the study of efficacy diazinon. The baseline tick count was conducted to divide the cattle into control and intervention groups. Forty two cattle were sprayed by diazinon and the remaining forty two were kept as control group. Tick counting was done at Day-7, Day-14, Day-21 and Day-28 (after trial initiation days).Of 361 cattle examined, 254 (70.4%) were found to be infested with at least one tick. Three tick genera and four species (Ambylomma lepidum, A. variegatum, Boophilus decoloratus and Rhipicephalus evertsi-evertsi) of ticks were identified in the study area. A. lepidum was the frequent (accounted 39%) and prevalent (26%) tick species, while R. evertsi-evertsi was the least frequent species that accounted for 17%. Among the positive animals, the mean number of ticks per cattle was 7.2 for A. lepidum, which was the frequent species. Cattle with poor body condition were more vulnerable to A.lepidum infestation than those with medium and good body condition level. Efficacy of diazinon against ticks was 97% at day-28. The reduction in tick number was highly significant due to the acaricide diazinon from day-7 to- day-28. The infestation of ticks was high in the study area and this could play role in transmitting diseases and affecting the productivity of the cattle in Shambu town. Hence, the control strategies like spraying of diazinon need to be strengthened and continued as it has shown promising results against ticks.