Indigenous and crossbred cattle—A comparison of resistance to ticks and implications for their strategic control in Zimbabwe

Abstract

A comparison of the tick resistance of indigenous Mashona and crossbred Afrikander x Sussex oxen following natural tick infestation indicated that significantly more African blue ticks Boophilus decoloratus were found on the crossbred than the indigenous cattle (P < 0.05). The two groups of cattle were exposed to Babesia bigemina and Theileria taurotragi as indicated by high antibody titres on the indirect fluorescent antibody test, but no antibodies could be demonstrated to Anaplasma marginale and T. parva bovis despite the presence of their vectors. Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Hyalomma truncatum and H. marginatum rufipes showed a seasonal distribution. The implications of the findings in terms of strategic tick control are discussed.

Studies on Seasonal Dynamics of Ticks of Ogaden Cattle and Individual Variation in Resistance to Ticks in Eastern Ethiopia

“…R. evertsi evertsi ticks are found in altitudes ranging from 350 to 3500 m above sea level in various habitat throughout Ethiopia (Pegram et al, 1981) which is in line with this report. This tick had not showed specific preference for a particular season but recorded in most of the study period, which is in agreement with that of Sisay and Feseha (1997) and Fivaz et al (1992). In contrast, In Zambia, R. evertsi evertsi were reported to occur in Seasonal Dynamics of Ticks of Ogaden Cattle 287 relatively large numbers in the post-rainy and hot dry season (Macleod, 1970), which may be due to difference in weather and agro-ecology.…”

“…B. decoloratus was reported in the eastern part of Ethiopia (Gululat, 1987; Bekele, 1996), in western part of the country (Mekonnen et al, 1992), and in Abernosa, Ethiopia (Sisay and Fesaha, 1997). Different from this report, four major peaks of occurrences were reported in Zimbabwe (Fivaz et al, 1992), and in Zambia throughout the year and peaking takes place in most of the season (Macleod et al, 1977). These may be due to the difference in ecology and environment.…”

Comparison of resistance in three breeds of cattle against African ixodid ticks

“…The Arssi breed had the highest level of tick resistance, the Boran occupied an intermediate position and the Boran × Friesian cross-breed was the least tick resistant. The results of this study confirm the previous observations of Kaiser et al (1982), Latif (1984), Fivaz et al (1992 and Mohammed and De Castro (1993) that the Zebu cattle carry significantly less ticks than the exotic or their cross-breed progeny. Highly resistant cattle such as the local Arssi maintain the total tick populations at very low levels.…”

Studies on Host Resistance to Tick Infestations among Trypanotolerant Bos indicus Cattle Breeds in East Africaa

“…The standard tick size ranges for the two common species were estimated as follows; Rhipicephalus appendiculatus 4.5‐7 mm and Boophilus decoloratus 4.5‐8 mm. 9,10 Tick counts and identification were performed on the host.…”