Ticks and tick-borne pathogens infecting livestock and dogs in Tchicala-Tcholoanga, Huambo Province, Angola

Abstract

The diversity of ticks and tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) infesting domestic animals in Tchicala-Tcholoanga, Angola in 2016 was investigated. Seventeen tick species were recorded, Amblyomma pomposum being the most abundant on cattle (40%), goats (38%) and sheep (35%); Rhipicephalus turanicus was the most abundant on dogs (46%). This study presents new records of Haemaphysalis paraleachi, R. compositus, R. kochi and R. sulcatus in Angola, the first georeferenced population of Ha. leachi in southern Africa, and the second record of R. microplus in Angola. Using the reverse line blot (RLB) hybridisation assay, 15 TBP species were detected in blood samples from cattle (n=88), goats (n=82), sheep (n=85) and dogs (n=85). The most frequently detected species were Theileria velifera in cattle (78%), Theileria ovis in sheep (80%), and Babesia vogeli in dogs (35%). Species-specific quantitative PCR assays detected Babesia bigemina in 43% (35/80) of blood samples of cattle, while E. ruminantium was detected in 4% (3/70) of blood samples and in 7% of A. pomposum ticks.Anaplasma platys was detected from cattle (18%) and sheep (6%) during RLB analysis. These findings constitute pioneering research in Angola.

Epidemiological Survey on Tick-Borne Pathogens with Zoonotic Potential in Dog Populations of Southern Ethiopia

“…In Africa few studies have been conducted to detect the DNA of A. phagocythophilum in dog blood. The prevalence estimation (6.6%) of the present study was higher than what was recorded in previous surveys, conducted in many African countries including Algeria [ 37 ], Morocco [ 36 ], Ghana [ 38 ], Angola [ 39 ], South Africa [ 40 ] and other Sub-Saharan African countries [ 11 ], that reported positive findings ranging from 0% to 2.1%. However, the biomolecular methods and primers used differed among these studies.…”

Old Agents and Novel Variants of Tick-borne Microorganisms From Angola, 2017

“…Babesia bigemina, responsible for babesiosis, is prevalent in Angolan cattle [15]. Our study demonstrates its presence in R. decoloratus (competent vector) in Angola.…”

Old zoonotic agents and novel variants of tick-borne microorganisms from Benguela (Angola), July 2017

“…Ehrlichia ruminantium, Anaplasma and Theileria spp. have been reported from Angolan cattle; the latter has been also detected in one A. variegatum specimen [ 8 , 18 , 25 , 26 ]. Herein, the failure to detect these expected tick-borne microorganisms could be due to the low number of ticks and species analysed, the short period of time for tick collection and/or the host origin.…”

“…Babesia bigemina , responsible for babesiosis, is prevalent in Angolan cattle [ 25 ]. Our study demonstrates its presence in R. decoloratus (competent vector) in Angola.…”