Abstract
Uganda has experienced tick acaricide resistance in the livestock sector. With increase in incidence of tick-borne diseases (TBDs), use of antibiotics for control of TBDs and other opportunistic diseases has raisedserious concerns. The purpose of this study was to compare the farmers' tick control and antibiotic use practices on farms in regions of low (LARA) and high (HARA) tick acaricide resistance in Uganda, determine the prevalence of antibiotic residues in milk from both regions, and identify factors associated with antibiotic residues in milk. One representative district was selected from each region from which 10 farms were randomly selected. Delvotest SP-NT® test kit was used to detect antibiotic residues in milk. Half-body tick counts and acaricide efficacy tests were performed. Majority (70%) of HARA's respondents reported a corresponding increase in a monthly incidence of TBDs with an average of 3.2 cases of TBDs treated per farm compared to 0.2 cases in LARA. East Coast fever (ECF) was identified as the most common TBD in both regions, though cases of coinfection were more common in HARA. Half of HARA's respondents reported a corresponding increase in the use of antibiotics on their farms due to tick resistance compared to LARA. Antibiotics were the most used drugs on farms in both regions with oxytetracycline being the commonly used antibiotic. Ticks from HARA were resistant to deltamethrin, amitraz, and coformulation (chlorpyriphos and cypermethrin) while resistance against deltamethrin was confirmed in LARA. HARA farms had a significantly higher prevalence of antibiotic residues (21.25%) in raw milk than in LARA (4%) farms (p < 0.05). Acaricide resistance and practice of reading drug use instructions were significantly associated with antibiotic residues in milk at farm level. Overall, the study provides vital information linking acaricide resistance to antibiotic use practices, consequently leading to antibiotic residues in milk.
Highlights
In recent times, tick acaricide failure or resistance has become one of the most important constraints to cattle production in Uganda
Small East African Zebu, Ankole cattle, Boran, and their crosses are the dominant breeds of cattle kept by farmers in Adjumani district. e crossbreeds kept in high acaricide resistance area (HARA) are more susceptible to tick-borne diseases (TBDs) compared to thenative breeds kept in low acaricide resistance area (LARA), which are relatively more resistant to TBDs [3]. e communal grazing system is mainly practiced in LARA, whereas farmers from HARA practice the paddock system. e herd sizes vary in both regions depending on many factors such as land availability, breeds, and purpose for keeping cattle
All the farms selected in HARA kept crossbreeds of Ankole and exotic cattle 10 (100%), whereas small East African Zebu 9 (90%) was the dominant cattle breed kept in LARA
Summary
Tick acaricide failure or resistance has become one of the most important constraints to cattle production in Uganda. In southwestern Uganda, cases of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus ticks that resist at least 2 classes of acaricides have been reported in over five districts [1]. Our previous study reported that farmers from southwestern Uganda rely exclusively on acaricides for tick control and did not practice integrated tick control approaches [2]. Farmers from northwestern Uganda were found to be lacking knowledge on appropriate tick control and ocassionally used acaricides to control ticks, but their indigenous cattle were able to survive high tick burdens and associated tick-borne diseases (TBDs) [2]. Farmers routinely apply acaricides on animals, the resistant ticks do not respond and continue to vector tick-borne pathogens causing an upsurge of TBDs [3]. Farmers try to put in place measures to mitigate the associated TBDs of which use of antibiotics for both curative and prophylactic purposes remain very key [4]
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