Zeitschrift für Tropenkrankheiten und öffentliche Gesundheit

Abstrakt

Influence of Some Climatic Factors and Cattle Coat on the Seasonal Kinetics of Ticks and the Variation of Tick Density in the Sudano-Sahelian Zone of Cameroon

Marie Therese Mailaiso1, Pierre Saotoing2*, Mamoudou Abdoulmoumini3

Cattle infestation by ticks is a limiting factor for the development of livestock breeding in the semi-arid part of Cameroon. The local traditional strategies implemented to control the infestation of cattle by these parasites have had a lot of limitations. To remedy this, there was need to investigate on ticks’ ecology. Thus, a study was carried out in this region from August 2019 to July 2020 to determine the influence of climatic factors and cattle coat colour on the dynamics, the community structure and the diversity of tick in traditional breeding systems. From these enquiries, it stems that rainfall and humidity were favourable for the development of Amblyomma variegatum, Hyalomma marginatum rufipes, Hyalomma truncatum and Hyalomma impeltattum tick species. A significant difference (P<0.0001) between the density of different tick species per month during the year was noted. In addition, cattle with red, spotted red, black, spotted black and spotted white coats were more infested by the different species of ticks than white-coated cattle (P<0.05). 41% of Amblyomma variegatum ticks were collected from the udders and testicles, 13% from the anal region, 14% from the chest, and 17% from other parts of the body. 38% of Hyalomma marginatum rufipes ticks were collected from the udders and testes, 20.8% from the anal region, 10% from the chest and 31% from other parts of the body 48% of Hyalomma truncatum ticks were collected from anal region, 18% from the udders and testes, 27% from the legs and armpits and 7% from other parts of the body. 43% of H. impeltattum ticks were collected from the udders and testicles, 27% from the chest and 18% from the anal region and 12% from the other parts of the body. 80% of Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks were collected from the testes, 19% from the anal region. 87% of Boophilus decoloratus ticks were collected from the testes and 13% from the anal region. This study is useful in setting up an appropriate strategy for the control of ticks and diseases they transmit by taking into consideration their seasonal activities.