Impact Of Ticks Research Articles

Evaluating Cattle Farmers' Awareness of Lumpy Skin Disease: Insights on Transmission, Prevention, and Control in Tiruvarur District, Tamil Nadu, India

The present study aimed to evaluate the level of awareness among cattle farmers about Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), including its general aspects, transmission, and preventive measures, in the Tiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu. The study involved 218 cattle farmers who visited the various Veterinary Dispensaries in Tiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu. Data were collected through personal interviews using a pre-tested and semi-structured interview schedule. The level of awareness was assessed based on the mean scores obtained from the respondents. The findings revealed that while respondents demonstrated a higher level of awareness regarding LSD affecting cattle, they lacked knowledge about viral diseases that cause abortion in dairy animals. Respondents showed greater awareness about the 'introduction of infected animals into the herd.' Still, they had less awareness about the role of 'contaminated feed and water' in disease transmission, as well as the movement of cattle and the impact of ticks, mosquitoes, and flies in transmitting the disease. Concerning preventive and control measures, respondents were more aware that vaccination is an effective method for controlling LSD but had less awareness regarding the role of fomites in transmitting the LSD virus between animals and the effectiveness of controlling ticks, flies, and mosquitoes in disease prevention. "Social media was identified as one of the significant sources of information for farmers. However, it needs to be streamlined to ensure the dissemination of accurate and scientific information about the disease, facilitating more effective disease prevention and control."

What is the current and expected evolution of prevalence, geographical spread and impact of ticks and tick-borne diseases, and what strategies are needed to improve management, testing, diagnosis and treatment of these diseases amongst patients and animal populations?

Tick-borne pathogens are a growing threat with increasing negative impact on species diversity, food security and human health. Ticks, as a group, are second only to mosquitoes as vectors of pathogens to humans and are the primary vector for pathogens of livestock, companion animals, and wildlife (Mansfield et al., 2017). There are many tick species in Europe that carry human pathogens, and there are many more in North and South America and Asia. Changes in climate and land usage are leading to changes in the tick populations and therefore pathogen spread (Gandy et al., 2023).1 To mitigate the impact of these tick-borne pathogens, we need to better understand the complex relationships between vector, pathogen and host. Disease management approaches (including preventative measures and treatment protocols) vary significantly from country to country, partly due to resource challenges, but also due to knowledge siloes. Testing and treatment protocols for many tick-borne diseases are an acknowledged area of research need, and there is a growing patient, political and clinical voice calling for improvement. Effective multidisciplinary and international collaboration has the potential to yield significant improvements in scientific understanding, disease management and treatment strategies.

Infestation rates, seasonal distribution, and genetic diversity of ixodid ticks from livestock of various origins in two markets of Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Little is known about the impact of ticks on livestock and humans in Cameroon. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, seasonal variation, and genetic diversity of hard ticks in the country. Ticks were collected during a cross-sectional survey on domestic livestock in two markets of Yaoundé in 2019 and 2020 and identified using morphological keys, 16S ribosomal DNA, (16S rDNA), and the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (Cox1) genes. The infestation rates were 39.18%, 11.53%, and 2.74% in cattle, sheep, and goats respectively. Three genera of ticks were identified, Rhipicephalus, Amblyomma, and Hyalomma comprising eleven tick species. The main species were Rhipicephalus decoloratus (30.25%), R. microplus (24.43%), and Amblyomma variegatum (12.96%). Rhipicephalus spp. (81.31%) and Amblyomma variegatum (51.54%) were abundant during the rainy season, while Hyalomma spp. (83.86%) during the dry season (p-value <0.00001). Cox1 and 16S rDNA analysis showed a high level of genetic diversity among tick species with sequences close to those observed across Africa. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that our R. microplus belong to clade A and we identified R. sanguineus s.l. as R. linnea. This study shows a high tick infestation rate in cattle, while low in small ruminants with an extensive diversity of tick species, including several known vectors of important tick-borne diseases.

Multi\u2010country investigation of\xa0the diversity and associated microorganisms isolated from tick species from domestic\xa0animals, wildlife and vegetation in selected african countries

In many areas of Africa, recent studies highlighted the great impact of ticks on animal and human health throughout the continent. On the other hand, very limited information on the bacterial endosymbionts of the African ticks and their pattern of co-infections with other bacteria are found in literature, notwithstanding their pivotal role in tick survival and vector efficiency. Thus, we investigated the distribution of selected pathogenic and symbiotic bacteria in hard ticks collected from wild, domestic animals and from vegetation in various ecological zones in Africa and their co-occurrence in the same tick host. Overall, 339 hard ticks were morphologically identified as belonging to the genera Amblyomma, Dermacentor, Hyalomma, Haemaphysalis, Ixodes and Rhipicephalus. Molecular screening provided information on pathogens circulation in Africa, detecting spotted fever group rickettsiae, Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia ruminantium, Borrelia garinii, Babesia spp., Theileria spp. and Coxiella burnetii. Furthermore, our work provides insights on the African scenario of tick-symbiont associations, revealing the presence of Coxiella, Francisella and Midichloria across multiple tick populations. Coxiella endosymbionts were the most prevalent microorganisms, and that with the broadest spectrum of hosts, being detected in 16 tick species. Francisella was highly prevalent among the Hyalomma species tested and correlated negatively with the presence of Coxiella, showing a potential competitive interaction. Interestingly, we detected a positive association of Francisella with Rickettsia in specimens of Hy. rufipes, suggesting a synergistic interaction between them. Finally, Midichloria was the most prevalent symbiont in Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato from Egypt.

Seroprevalence of Selected Tick Borne Pathogens and Diversity and Abundance of Ixodid Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) at the Wildlife-Livestock Interface in Northern Botswana.

Ticks and tick borne diseases (TBDs) undermine livestock production with considerable economic losses to livestock producers in endemic areas worldwide. Despite the impact of ticks and TBDs in livestock production, there is a paucity of information on ticks and diseases they transmit in Botswana. To address this gap, a cross-sectional study was conducted to determine (i) the seroprevalence of selected tick borne (TB) pathogens and (ii) the diversity and abundance of ixodid ticks among 301 cattle foraging around two protected areas in northern Botswana, differing by the presence or absence of a physical barrier (fence) separating wildlife and livestock. Competitive inhibition enzyme linked immuno-sorbent assay (cELISA) was used to test for Anaplasma spp. infection and Indirect Fluorescence Antibody Test (IFAT) was used to test for Theileria parva, Babesia bovis, and B. bigemina. Ticks were identified morphologically at either genus or species level. Seroprevalence of cattle was found to be 90% for Anaplasma spp., followed by 38.6% for Babesia spp. and 2.4% for T. parva. Except for Babesia spp., comparisons of the seroprevalence of the selected haemoparasites between the two wildlife-livestock interface areas were not significantly different. The overall prevalence of ticks was found to be 73.4% with Amblyomma variegatum being the most abundant (53.1%) followed by Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi (31.7%) and R. (B.) decoloratus (7.7%). Except for Babesia spp., comparisons of the seroprevalence of the selected haemoparasites between the two study areas were not significantly different while comparisons of the burden of tick infestation between the study sites revealed significant difference for A. variegatum and R. evertsi evertsi with both tick infestations higher where there is no barrier. Our work provided baseline data on TBD pathogens and tick infestation in cattle populations exposed to different levels of contact with adjacent buffalo populations. The presence of a veterinary fence did not significantly influence the seroprevalence of the selected TBD pathogens (except for Babesia spp.) but seemed to reduce tick burdens in cattle. Findings from this study can be used for guiding future epidemiological study designs to improve our understanding of ticks and TBDs dynamics in northern Botswana.

Quantitative Proteomics Identifies Metabolic Pathways Affected by Babesia Infection and Blood Feeding in the Sialoproteome of the Vector Rhipicephalus bursa.

The negative impact of ticks and tick-borne diseases on animals and human health is driving research to discover novel targets affecting both vectors and pathogens. The salivary glands are involved in feeding and pathogen transmission, thus are considered as a compelling target to focus research. In this study, proteomics approach was used to characterize Rhipicephalus bursa sialoproteome in response to Babesia ovis infection and blood feeding. Two potential tick protective antigens were identified and its influence in tick biological parameters and pathogen infection was evaluated. Results demonstrate that the R. bursa sialoproteome is highly affected by feeding but infection is well tolerated by tick cells. The combination of both stimuli shifts the previous scenario and a more evident pathogen manipulation can be suggested. Knockdown of ub2n led to a significative increase of infection in tick salivary glands but a brusque decrease in the progeny, revealing its importance in the cellular response to pathogen infection, which is worth pursuing in future studies. Additionally, an impact in the recovery rate of adults (62%), the egg production efficiency (45.75%), and the hatching rate (88.57 %) was detected. Building knowledge on vector and/or pathogen interplay bridges the identification of protective antigens and the development of novel control strategies.

Driving forces for changes in geographic range of cattle ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in Africa: A review

Ticks are the most important external parasites of cattle and are known to transmit more pathogens than any other group of arthropods worldwide. About 80% of the world cattle population is at risk of ticks and tick-borne diseases, causing a global annual loss of $US22–30 billion. In Africa, the impact of ticks is ranked high, and they transmit diseases such as cowdriosis, anaplasmosis, bovine babesiosis and theileriosis. A range expansion of ixodid ticks has been observed in Africa, in particular for the genera Amblyomma and Rhipicephalus , which contribute greatly to cattle loss owing to morbidity and mortality. Distributional changes in ticks can lead to the emergence or re-emergence of infectious and parasitic diseases. Climate change is frequently invoked as the primary cause of tick distribution, but it is not the only factor. Human lifestyle changes, including transportation of livestock within countries, have promoted the introduction of new tick species and the diseases they transmit. One such example is the spread of the Asian cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus to West Africa. Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus was recorded for the first time in Namibia and was probably introduced into Namibia from South Africa. Likewise, Amblyomma variegatum , the vector of heartwater disease, has the largest distribution in Africa. Its spread is outside its native range and it is considered the second most invasive tick species after R. (B.) microplus on the continent. Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is a one-host tick that is reported to be resistant to conventional acaricides and this contributes largely to its spread into non-endemic areas. Keywords: Acaricide resistance, climate change, epidemiology, range expansion, tick ecology

Immunological control of ticks and tick-borne diseases that impact cattle health and production

The cattle industry is one of the most important agroeconomic activities in Mexico. The national herd is estimated to include approximately 33.5. million head of cattle. Ticks and tick-borne diseases are principal factors with a negative impact on cattle health and production. The most economically important tick species parasitizing cattle in Mexico are Rhipicephalus microplus, R. annulatus, and Amblyomma mixtum. Parasitism by ticks affects cattle health and production directly. Morbidity and mortality caused by tick-borne diseases augment the detrimental effect of tick infestation in cattle. Bovine babesiosis and anaplasmosis are the most important tick-borne diseases of cattle, which are caused by infectious agents transmitted by R. microplus and R. annulatus. However, there are no prophylactic therapies to control bovine babesiosis and anaplasmosis. Chemical control is the most common way to treat animals against ticks, and the use of acaricides can also help manage tick-borne diseases. However, the evolution of resistance to acaricides among cattle tick populations renders chemical control ineffective; which represents a challenge for sustainable ticks and tick-borne diseases control. The only anti-tick vaccine commercially available globally is based on the recombinant antigen Bm86. Because of its mode of immunity against R. microplus and R. annulatus, the Bm86-based vaccine also decreases the exposition of bovines to babesiosis and anaplasmosis. Research with Bm86-based vaccines documented high efficacy against R. annulatus, the efficacy levels against R. microplus varies according to the geographic origin of tick populations, and there is not effect against other ticks species such as Amblyomma spp. The impact of ticks and tick-borne diseases, the problem of chemical control due to acaricide resistance, and progress with anti-tick vaccine research efforts in Mexico are reviewed herein.

Impact of ticks and tick-borne diseases on agriculture and human populations in Europe

Ticks are considered in Europe to be the most important arthropod group responsible for vector-borne diseases in humans, while in the tropics mosquitoes take over this position with ticks being the second most important. Over the last decade, vector-borne diseases have proliferated within Southern Europe (Blue tongue and West Nile viruses, both mosquito-borne diseases) while human ehrlichiosis (a tick-borne disease) has increased dramatically in Eastern Europe.

The impact of ticks and tick-borne diseases on native animal species in Australia

Ectoparasites are a leading cause of arthropod-borne disease in animals, and humans. Defined as arthropods which spend an entire portion of their life cycle on the host, ectoparasites include the ticks and mites (Acarina), and the lice and fleas of the insect family. Their role in human disease transmission has been well documented, as has their importance in agricultural and domestic animals. Little however has been done to comprehensively examine the role these organisms may play in disease transmission and their impact upon native Australian fauna. It is important to consider the effects of such disease agents on the survival of both captive and wild native animal populations, particularly as exposure to a novel pathogen may remove endangered animals that are a vital pool of genetic diversity.

The global importance of ticks

Ticks and tick-borne diseases affect animal and human health worldwide and are the cause of significant economic losses. Approximately 10% of the currently known 867 tick species act as vectors of a broad range of pathogens of domestic animals and humans and are also responsible for damage directly due to their feeding behaviour. The most important tick species and the effects they cause are listed. The impact on the global economy is considered to be high and although some estimates are given, there is a lack of reliable data. The impact of ticks and tick-borne diseases on animal production and public health and their control are discussed.

The impact of ticks on pheasant territoriality

Pheasants are competent reservoir hosts for the Lyme disease spirochaete, Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., and carry large, but highly over‐dispersed, infestations of the vector ticks, Ixodes ricinus. The effects of experimental reduction of tick infestation levels on the survival and territorial behaviour of male pheasants were studied. Over three years in two woodlands in southern England, birds were marked individually and half were fitted with a slow‐release acaricide, which substantially reduced their tick burdens from March to August. Acaricide treatment affected reproductive success but had no discernible impact on the survival rates of male pheasants. The degree of wattle inflation by males, an indicator of territorial status and a correlate of harem acquisition, was significantly greater among treated males. In each year, a significantly higher proportion of treated (overall 44%) than control (22%) males acquired harems. Males that acquired females ranged over small areas on field edges. By contrast, those with no females ranged more widely in woods and the adjoining fields, increasing their exposure to questing ticks. The relative contribution of such roving males to tick‐borne pathogen transmission may thus increase.

The impact of ticks onBufo marinusfrom native habitats

SUMMARYWe analysed the patterns of tick distribution on 2274 adult toads from Venezuela and Brazil, to explore whether these ectoparasites have any impact on the survival ofBufo marinus. A maximum-likelihood analysis showed that aggregation levels of ticks decreased significantly with the mean intensity of infection. This decline could be attributed to a density-dependent reduction of ticks within toads, density-dependent tick-induced toad mortality and/or density-dependent tick-induced changes in toad susceptibility. However, the relationship between the rate of change in tick loads and tick burdens from recaptured toads indicated that neither the loss of ticks within toads nor the toad susceptibility to further infection were dependent upon tick burdens. Therefore, we can indirectly infer that density-dependent tick-induced toad mortality is responsible for the observed decline in aggregation levels with tick age and burdens. On the other hand, a significant negative relationship between tick burdens and the size-specific weight of toads suggested that ticks may also have a significant impact on the patterns of weight deposition of adult toads. This evidence suggests that these ectoparasites may play an important role in regulating the densities ofB. marinusin native habitats.