Molecular detection and characterisation of protozoan and rickettsial pathogens in ticks from cattle in the pastoral area of Karamoja, Uganda

Byaruhanga, Charles; Akure, Patience C.; Lubembe, Donald M.; Sibeko-Matjila, Kgomotso P.; Troskie, Milana; Oosthuizen, Marinda C.; Stoltsz, Hein

doi:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101709

Cited by 12 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…Such an unexpected result was justified by the authors [ 50 ] by a high rate of contact between E. ruminantium and Rhipicephalus microplus in western Africa due to high circulation of E. ruminantium [ 51 , 52 ] and a recent invasion of R. microplus in Benin [ 50 ]. However, other studies found that numerous Rhipicephalus ticks, tested in pools for the presence of E. ruminantium , were negative [ 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 ], raising the question as to whether such results are due to the low limit of detection and/or low parasitaemia, or whether they truly represent a negative outcome. The detection of E. ruminantium in the egg pool and progeny of (infected) R. microplus is concerning, but no experimental transmission of the pathogen by R. microplus to a susceptible host has been demonstrated.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution and Prevalence of Anaplasmataceae, Rickettsiaceae and Coxiellaceae in African Ticks: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

et al. 2023

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In Africa, ticks continue to be a major hindrance to the improvement of the livestock industry due to tick-borne pathogens that include Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia and Coxiella species. A systemic review and meta-analysis were conducted here and highlighted the distribution and prevalence of these tick-borne pathogens in African ticks. Relevant publications were searched in five electronic databases and selected using inclusion/exclusion criteria, resulting in 138 and 78 papers included in the qualitative and quantitative analysis, respectively. Most of the studies focused on Rickettsia africae (38 studies), followed by Ehrlichia ruminantium (27 studies), Coxiella burnetii (20 studies) and Anaplasma marginale (17 studies). A meta-analysis of proportions was performed using the random-effects model. The highest prevalence was obtained for Rickettsia spp. (18.39%; 95% CI: 14.23–22.85%), R. africae (13.47%; 95% CI: 2.76–28.69%), R. conorii (11.28%; 95% CI: 1.77–25.89%), A. marginale (12.75%; 95% CI: 4.06–24.35%), E. ruminantium (6.37%; 95% CI: 3.97–9.16%) and E. canis (4.3%; 95% CI: 0.04–12.66%). The prevalence of C. burnetii was low (0%; 95% CI: 0–0.25%), with higher prevalence for Coxiella spp. (27.02%; 95% CI: 10.83–46.03%) and Coxiella-like endosymbionts (70.47%; 95% CI: 27–99.82%). The effect of the tick genera, tick species, country and other variables were identified and highlighted the epidemiology of Rhipicephalus ticks in the heartwater; affinity of each Rickettsia species for different tick genera; dominant distribution of A. marginale, R. africae and Coxiella-like endosymbionts in ticks and a low distribution of C. burnetii in African hard ticks.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution and Prevalence of Anaplasmataceae, Rickettsiaceae and Coxiellaceae in African Ticks: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

et al. 2023

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“…In Uganda, the most common tick species are the brown ear ticks ( Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ), blue ticks ( R. decoloratus ), bont ticks ( Amblyomma variegatum ), and red ticks ( R. evertsi ) [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. Ticks are responsible for USD 1.1 billion in annual losses, resulting from livestock deaths due to tick-borne pathogens, related morbidity, costly but unreliable treatment of tick-borne diseases, acaricide resistance, blood loss from hosts, and tick-associated tissue damages, among other factors [ 3 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This tick is a medium-sized, two-host tick that is dark brown with reddish-orange legs. This tick can undergo more than two lifecycles per annum and transmit Anaplasma marginale for cattle and Babesia caballi for donkeys [ 2 , 5 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring the Subolesin Vaccine Field Trial for Safer Control of Cattle Ticks Amidst Increasing Acaricide Resistance in Uganda

Kabi¹,

Dhikusooka²,

Matovu³

et al. 2022

Vaccines

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A collaboration program was established between the group of Health and Biotechnology (SaBio) of the IREC Institute of Game and Wildlife Research (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, Spain) and the National Agricultural Research Organization of Uganda (NARO) for the development of vaccines for the control of cattle ticks in Uganda. Controlled pen trials identified a tick protective antigen, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus Subolesin, and a cross-species-effective vaccine formulation. As the next step, a controlled vaccine field trial has been approved by Ugandan state regulatory authorities, the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST) and the National Drug Authority (NDA), to evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness of the vaccine formulation for the control of cattle tick infestations under field conditions. The results of this trial may lead to the approval of the vaccine for application in Uganda to improve cattle health and production while reducing the use of acaricides.

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“…The high prevalence of ticks and tick-borne diseases (TTBDs) is a crucial hindrance to the development of the dairy industry in Uganda (Okello-Onen et al, 2003;Kasaija et al, 2021). The critical tick-borne diseases (TBDs) in Uganda are East Coast fever (ECF), babesiosis, anaplasmosis and heartwater (Byaruhanga et al, 2021;Kaiser et al, 1982;Vudriko et al, 2018). Rhipicephalus appendiculatus transmits the causative pathogen for ECF, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus spreads agents for babesiosis and anaplasmosis, while the pathogen for heartwater is transmitted by Amblyomma variegatum (Byaruhanga et al, 2021;Kasaija et al, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The critical tick-borne diseases (TBDs) in Uganda are East Coast fever (ECF), babesiosis, anaplasmosis and heartwater (Byaruhanga et al, 2021;Kaiser et al, 1982;Vudriko et al, 2018). Rhipicephalus appendiculatus transmits the causative pathogen for ECF, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus spreads agents for babesiosis and anaplasmosis, while the pathogen for heartwater is transmitted by Amblyomma variegatum (Byaruhanga et al, 2021;Kasaija et al, 2021). Recent field observation in the country show an average tick burden of 21 R. appendiculatus, 7 R. (Boophilus) decoloratus and 3 A. variegatum ticks on grazed cattle (unpublished findings).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effectiveness and limitations of the recently adopted acaricide application methods in tick control on dairy farms in South-Western Uganda

Mbatidd¹,

Bugenyi²,

Natuhwera³

et al. 2021

J. Agric. Ext. Rural Dev

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In Uganda, control of ticks and tick-borne diseases (TTBDs) largely depends on the use of chemicals applied using different methods. This cross-sectional study assessed 17 factors to determine the effectiveness and limitations in the use of the recently adopted acaricide application methods on dairy cattle farms in south-western Uganda. The average annual morbidity and mortality due to tick-borne diseases were 42.6 and 30.0% for farms using bucket pumps, 9.3 and 4.2% for those using motorised pumps and 3.0 and 1.0% for spray races, respectively. For a 20-year period, the estimated cost of acaricide application for a herd of 80 head of cattle was US$ 71,042, US$ 38,694 and US$ 28,710 when using a bucket pump, spray race and a motorised pump, respectively. Bucket pump method may only be cost-effective on farms of 40 to 112 head of cattle, while a motorised pump was only economical for farms of 35 to 170 cattle and a spray race being a better option at farms of 100 to 600 cattle. Farmers should make the most appropriate choice of acaricide application method to achieve the most effective control of TTBDs on their farms.

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Molecular detection and characterisation of protozoan and rickettsial pathogens in ticks from cattle in the pastoral area of Karamoja, Uganda

Cited by 12 publications

References 61 publications

Distribution and Prevalence of Anaplasmataceae, Rickettsiaceae and Coxiellaceae in African Ticks: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Distribution and Prevalence of Anaplasmataceae, Rickettsiaceae and Coxiellaceae in African Ticks: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Monitoring the Subolesin Vaccine Field Trial for Safer Control of Cattle Ticks Amidst Increasing Acaricide Resistance in Uganda

Effectiveness and limitations of the recently adopted acaricide application methods in tick control on dairy farms in South-Western Uganda

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