Abstract
This study was carried out in Fangak County, Jonglei State, South Sudan, with aim to identify the main ticks species and follow north limit of the theileriosis in Jonglei. Three localities namely; Hai, Toggar and Bichoul kun village in Phoum payam were selected as suspected area for East Coast fever (ECF), Group A) and Kuer kan in Manjang payams were selected as non suspected area for ECF (Group B). These groups A and B were based on animal movement, trade businessand intermarriages (animals paid for dowry). A total of 120 sera were collected from cattle of different age groups. The serum samples were tested using indirect polymorphic immunodominant molecule (PIM) ELISA to detect Theileria parva antibodies. The results indicated that 5/44 (11.4%) samples from non suspected area (group B) and 48/76 (63.2%) samples from suspected area (Group A) revealed antibodies. The overall positivity was 53/120 (44.17%) which was highly significant (P < 0.001) according to the locations. Three tick genera were recorded, Amblyomma, Hyalomma and Rhipicephalus. The species were A. variegatum, A. lepidum, H. rufipes, R. (B.) decoloratus, R. (B.) annulatus, R. e. evertsi and R. sanguineus. The most abundant tick species was A. variegatum, constituting 62%, while the lowest tick recorded was R. e. evertsi with prevalence rate of 2%. No R. appendiculatus tick was seen in Fangak area; while T. parva antibodies were detected. Regarding the fact that T. parva antibodies were present in the area with 44.17% prevalence, more efforts are needed to determine the extension of ECF and its vector R. appendiculatus to the northern parts of Jonglei State and this result of ECF antibodies could be an alarm to migrate cattle owners from South Sudan. Key words: Ticks, east coast fever (ECF), ELISA, South Sudan.
Highlights
South Sudan is known to be most populated with livestock in Africa, on other hand only equatorial area is known to be endemic while two region of Upper Nile and Bahr El Ghazal is known to be free from diseases except some pockets in Bor Jonglei State and Awerial in Lake State (Kavaria et al, 2012)
R. appendiculatus, the vector of East Coast Fever (ECF) caused by the Theileria parva is mainly distributed in areas of high rainfall and moderate temperature, such as the district of Kajo Kaji, Yei, Ngangala, Torit and Katire
Based on the indirect polymorphic immunodominant molecule (PIM) ELISA,the overall prevalence of T. parva antibodies was 44.17% (53/120) in overall cases prevalence ranging between 4.17% (5/120), 15.83% (19/120) and 24.17% (29/120) in Kuer kan, Bichoul Kun and Hai Toggar, respectively
Summary
South Sudan is known to be most populated with livestock in Africa, on other hand only equatorial area is known to be endemic while two region of Upper Nile and Bahr El Ghazal is known to be free from diseases except some pockets in Bor Jonglei State and Awerial in Lake State (Kavaria et al, 2012). R. appendiculatus, the vector of East Coast Fever (ECF) caused by the Theileria parva is mainly distributed in areas of high rainfall and moderate temperature, such as the district of Kajo Kaji, Yei, Ngangala, Torit and Katire. These tick species was identified in Chukudum, Aswa River, Palotaka, Nimule and Juba (Morzaria et al, 1981 and Julla 1985, 1994). Korok (2005) reported the presence of eight species of ticks in Pibor area of Jonglei State while Salih et al, (2008) found ten species and three genera including the ECF vector in Central Equatoria State. Kivaria et al, (2012) conducted a survey in five states, and showed the presence of three genera and six species among which was the vector of ECF and presence of other main TBDs in those states
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