Abstract
A recent research study on prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in Burundi reported high prevalence and endemicity of Theileria parva, Anaplasma marginale and Babesia bigemina infections in cattle. Detailed information about tick species infesting animals, their distribution and genetic diversity in Burundi is outdated and limited. This study therefore assessed the prevalence and genetic diversity of tick species infesting cattle across agroecological zones (AEZs) in Burundi. A cross-sectional study on the occurrence of tick species was conducted in 24 districts of Burundi between October and December 2017. Differential identification and characterization of ticks collected was conducted using tick morphological keys and molecular tools (cox1 and 12S rRNA gene). Chi-square test was used to test for association between agroecological zones and the prevalence of tick species. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred using bayesian and maximum likelihood algorithms. A total of 483 ticks were collected from the five AEZs sampled. Six tick species comprising of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, R. sanguineus, R. evertsi evertsi, R. microplus, R. decoloratus and Amblyomma variegatum were observed. Rhipicephalus appendiculatus were the most prevalent ticks (~45%). A total of 138 specimens (28%) were found to be Rhipicephalus microplus, suggesting an emerging threat for cattle farmers. Twelve R. appendiculatus cox1 haplotypes were obtained from 106 specimens that were sequenced. Two cox1 haplotypes of R. microplus which clustered into previously reported Clade A were observed. Rhipicephalus sanguineus and R. evertsi evertsi ticks, the vectors of numerous zoonotic pathogens, were collected from cattle, which constitute a high risk for public health. These findings reveal an overlapping distribution of tick vectors in Burundi. The design of ticks and tick-borne diseases control strategies should consider the distribution of different vectors across the AEZs particularly the presence of the highly invasive R. microplus tick in Burundi and the potential risk of introducing the pathogenic Babesia bovis.
Highlights
Several Ixodid ticks are vectors of economically important livestock diseases in sub-Saharan Africa
R. appendiculatus and R. microplus were the most prevalent compared to other tick species
R. microplus, R. decoloratus and R. evertsi evertsi display distinct biological parameters, the present study showed that they form a paraphyletic group and shared a common ancestor
Summary
Several Ixodid ticks are vectors of economically important livestock diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. Theileria parva which is transmitted by R. appendiculatus is the most prevalent and economically important tick transmitted pathogen in cattle in sub-Saharan Africa countries [1,2]. Other important pathogens including B. bigemina and A. marginale that are transmitted by R. decoloratus and Amblyomma variegatum ticks respectively, have recently been reported across all the AEZs of Burundi [1]. A previous study conducted between 1980 and 1983 reported the occurrence of 13 tick species infesting animals in Burundi including R. appendiculatus, R. evertsi evertsi, R. compositus, R. lunulatus, R. muhsamae, R. hurti, R. jeanneli, R. pravus, A. variegatum, R. decoloratus, Haemaphysalis aciculifer, Hyalomma marginatum rufipes and Ixodes cavipalpis [3]. Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, A. variegatum and R. decoloratus were the most common ticks across the country, the remainder were represented by few specimens. It is expected that the abundance and spatial spread of these vectors will have altered thirty years later
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