Identification of Tick and Tick Borne Hemo-Parasites in Tiyo District, Arsi Zone, Oromia Region

Abstract

This study was conducted between November 2014 to march 2015 in Tiyo district and the surrounding peasant associations to determine the prevalence of tick and tick- born haemo-parasites in local and exotic cattle. A total of 384 local, exotic and cross breed cattles of all age group and sex group were included in this study. Four genera of ticks namely Amblyoma, Boophilus, Rhepicephalus and Hyaloma were identified with prevalence rate of (72%, 15%, 3%, 6.5%) respectively. From these ticks Boophilus constituted a high percentage of prevalence (72%) followed by Amblyoma(15%), Rhepicephalus(6.5%) and Hyaloma (3%) respectively. Out of 371 animals which were infested with ticks thin blood smears were examined for tick-borne protozoan parasites. From this 8 out of 371 were positive and 6 animals were found to be positive for Babesiosis while 2 of them for Anaplasmosis with prevalence rate of 1.6% and 0.5% respectively. Although it is difficult to deduct conclusive ideas about the general incidence and prevalence of hemo-parasites due to the short interval of the survey period, especially which did not include the wet season, it is clear that tick and tick borne haemoparasites constitutes a very important place in the area.