Current concepts in the control of ticks and tick-borne diseases in Nigeria—A review

Abstract

Nigeria livestock population is estimated at about 12 J M cattle, 9 M sheep, 23 M goats, and 1M pigs distributed nation-wide, but with over 90 % in the savannah zones in the country. Ticks and tick-borne diseases are endemic although incidence rate varies with seasons and livestock concentration. Ixodid ticks of the genera Amblyomma, Boophilus, Hyalomma and Rhipicephalus are of the greatest economic importance in livestock production in Nigeria. Control measures have been based mainly on dipping and spraying with acaricides, although a lot of management problems have characterized the drive towards effective tick control. There is as yet no research centre for ticks and tick-borne diseases in Nigeria. Much of the work being done is carried out at the Veterinary Faculties of five Nigerian universities at Nsukka, Ibadan, Zaria, Sokoto and Maiduguri. A proper epidemiological base line data is still needed in the formulation of effective control measures. Economic losses, attributable to ticks and tick-borne diseases in Nigeria run into several millions of Naira per annum. An Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach is considered a long term option for effective tick control in Nigeria.