Infestation Levels Research Articles

Influence of sowing dates on the population density of the fall armyworm <i>Spodoptera frugiperda</i> (JE. Smith) and its damage on maize plants in Chad

Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, constitutes a major challenge for maize growers and scientists, as it threatens the food security of all these countries. In order to contribute to the sustainable management of the pest in Chad, this study aimed at assessing the effect of sowing dates on the level of maize infestation in the field. Three sowing periods for maize, chosen in connection with the onset of rains, were tested (the early sowing (July 2nd), the intermediate sowing (July 16th), and the late sowing (July 30th)) with a Fall armyworm- sensitive maize variety. The results indicated a significant effect of sowing dates on the population densities of the pest, with the early sowing hosting the highest density and infestation rate of the pest, compared to the intermediate and late sowing (P < 0.0001). Moreover, the results showed a significant impact of sowing dates on grain yield (P < 0.005), with significantly higher values in the intermediate sowing while, the early and late sowing recorded lower yields. These results indicated that the intermediate sowing should be recommended for this early maturing and fall armyworm-sensitive maize variety to limit population outbreaks of this pest, together with its adverse consequences on maize yield.

Efficiency of plant-based acaricide gels compared to fluvalinate-impregnated strips for control of Varroa destructor in honey bee colonies.

The Varroa mite is one of the most important pests of honey bee colonies. This study compares the efficiency of thymol-based acaricides with the tau-fluvalinate-based commercial treatment to control this mite species. Two experiments were conducted: (1) in the Fall, thymol-based gel was compared with a widely used acaricide, fluvalinate-impregnated strips (Apistan®), and (2) in the Spring, gels containing thymol-only, thymol + menthol + eucalyptus essential oil, and thymol + thyme essential oil were compared with fluvalinate-impregnated strips. In the first experiment, both treatments reduced Varroa mite infestation levels significantly after 70 days of their application compared to the control treatment. The results of the second experiment showed that thymol + thyme essential oil gel, thymol +menthol + eucalyptus essential oil gel, and Apistan strips had always higher efficiency on decreasing mite infestation levels of the selected colonies compared to the control treatment and thymol-only gel during their 7-week application. The results of this study demonstrate that plant-based acaricides for controlling Varroa mites in honey bee colonies have similar efficiency compared to the chemical control methods. Therefore, it is better to use these selected acaricides to reduce mite resistance to chemical control treatments in honey bee colonies.

Research on machine vision and deep learning based recognition of cotton seedling aphid infestation level.

Aphis gossypii Glover is a major insect pest in cotton production, which can cause yield reduction in severe cases. In this paper, we proposed the A. gossypii infestation monitoring method, which identifies the infestation level of A. gossypii at the cotton seedling stage, and can improve the efficiency of early warning and forecasting of A. gossypii, and achieve precise prevention and cure according to the predicted infestation level. We used smartphones to collect A. gossypii infestation images and compiled an infestation image data set. And then constructed, trained, and tested three different A. gossypii infestation recognition models based on Faster Region-based Convolutional Neural Network (R-CNN), You Only Look Once (YOLO)v5 and single-shot detector (SSD) models. The results showed that the YOLOv5 model had the highest mean average precision (mAP) value (95.7%) and frames per second (FPS) value (61.73) for the same conditions. In studying the influence of different image resolutions on the performance of the YOLOv5 model, we found that YOLOv5s performed better than YOLOv5x in terms of overall performance, with the best performance at an image resolution of 640×640 (mAP of 96.8%, FPS of 71.43). And the comparison with the latest YOLOv8s showed that the YOLOv5s performed better than the YOLOv8s. Finally, the trained model was deployed to the Android mobile, and the results showed that mobile-side detection was the best when the image resolution was 256×256, with an accuracy of 81.0% and FPS of 6.98. The real-time recognition system established in this study can provide technical support for infestation forecasting and precise prevention of A. gossypii.

Enhanced diversity of aquatic macroinvertebrate predators and biological pest control but reduced crop establishment in organic rice farming

Organic farming has been adopted as the main alternative to reduce the environmental impact of intensive agriculture by banning the use of synthetic inputs and bolstering key ecological functions such as biological pest control. Yet the potential cascading effects of farming management on the communities of natural enemies, the provisioning of pest control, and the ultimate impact on crop performance remain poorly explored. This is especially true for semi-aquatic crops such as rice (Oryza sativa, L) that largely depend on aquatic macroinvertebrate predators for biological pest control. Here we performed two consecutive landscape-scale field experiments by combining monthly surveys of macroinvertebrate aquatic predators with both pest predation and seed rice germination trials to assess differences between conventional and organic rice farming in all the above-mentioned issues. Specifically, we selected 6 organic and 6 conventionally managed rice paddies and evaluated differences in i) the diversity of aquatic macroinvertebrate predators (taxa richness and evenness), ii) the infestation level of a seed pest (chironomids larvae), iii) the efficiency of biological pest control provisioning and iv) the impact on germination of rice seeds. Communities of macroinvertebrate aquatic predators were more diverse (taxa richness) and abundant in organic than in conventional fields, yet community evenness was higher in conventionally-managed fields. Accordingly, we found that macroinvertebrate-mediated pest control was markedly more efficient in organic farms during the establishment crop stage. Pest infestation, however, remained also higher in organic farming, most likely because biological pest control in organic fields is not able to outcompete chemical control provided in conventional fields. Finally, the increased infestation level observed in organic fields ultimately resulted in reduced germination rates of rice seeds, thus limiting crop performance. Our results highlight the potential positive effects of pesticide banning in organic rice farming on aquatic macroinvertebrate communities and the consequently improvement of biological pest control provisioning. Yet conditions enhancing biodiversity may also favor pest infestation and ultimately increase crop damage. Management recommendations should therefore account for potential services and disservices associated to organic farming in order to avoid negative yield outcomes for rice farmers.

Coffee Berry Borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): Activity and Infestation in the High Mountain and Blue Mountain Regions of Jamaica.

Jamaica produces coffee marketed as Blue Mountain and high mountain (grown outside the Blue Mountains). Since the discovery of the coffee berry borer (CBB; Hypothenemus hampei) in Jamaica in 1978, chemical control has traditionally been the primary approach used to protect the crop from the pest. However, in the last 20 years, there has been an effort to shift towards more sustainable management strategies. The study was conducted to determine CBB activity (trap catch) and field infestation on coffee farms in the high mountains and Blue Mountains of Jamaica, over a crop cycle. A total of 27,929 and 12,921 CBBs were captured at high mountain and Blue Mountain farms, respectively. Peak CBB activity occurred in April in the high mountain region (365 CBBs/trap/month) and February in the Blue Mountain region (129 CBBs/trap/month). The highest levels of infestation were in November (33%) and October (34%) in the high mountain region and Blue Mountain region, respectively. There was no significant difference in the patterns of CBB activity and infestation between the study locations, and neither were related to the temperature or relative humidity. However, there was a significant relationship with rainfall. These data suggest that the population dynamics of the CBB may involve complex interactions among weather conditions, berry development, and agronomic practices.

White Mango Scale (Aulacaspis tubercularis) infestation on mango: distinct scenarios of the pest status in Ethiopia and Kenya

Infestation of the White Mango Scale (WMS) (Aulacaspis tubercularis Newstead (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) on mango was known in Kenya for a longer time, yet the severity of its impact has only been reported frequently in Ethiopia where the first record of the pest was only about a decade. This study investigated the WMS statuses in Kenya and Ethiopia. A total of four fields, two from each country, were addressed to determine the population abundances of the pest at different developmental stages. Five blocks, one at the center and the rest at each corner of the study orchards were set in Ethiopia. In Kenya, Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was employed to determine the levels of susceptibility of different mango varieties to the pest. The abundance of WMS was significantly different (p < 0.05) between Arjo-Gudetu and Bako-Tibe sites in Ethiopia. Sessile mango scales in hundreds and eggs and crawlers each in thousands per leaf were recorded in Ethiopia. In contrast, very low WMS populations were recorded from the Kenyan orchards, with most leaves bearing no mango scale. However, the sessile stage populations observed were significantly different (p < 0.05) between Kimani-Sofia and Samuru-Kandara orchards. In each of these orchards, the levels of pest infestation varied significantly (p < 0.05) among the mango varieties, Kent and Vandyke being the most infested at Kimani-Sofia and Samuru-Kandara, respectively. In conclusion, these studies revealed the presence of a very high population abundance of mango scale in Ethiopia, whereas in Kenya it was very low. This variation may pertain mainly to the differences in mango production and pest management practices between the two countries. However, because these studies were conducted in different years in the two countries, cross-sectional investigations which include data from a considerable period may be required to better compare the levels of pest infestation in Kenya and Ethiopia.

Insights into varroa mite (Varroa destructor) infestation levels in local honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies of Ethiopia

AbstractThe varroa mite (Varroa destructor) is the most economically important parasitic pest of honey bees (Apis mellifera) that causes global colony decline and loss. Since its first detection in Ethiopia in 2010, little is known about the current infestation levels and contributing factors to the mite's distribution across the country. In this study, we conducted a large‐scale assessment of varroa prevalence and infestation levels in managed colonies across three potential beekeeping regions of Ethiopia; Oromia, Amhara and Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR). A total of 360 samples from 39 apiaries were collected following standard protocols and the mite prevalence and infestation levels were determined using the established method of varroa research. Overall, 89% of sampled colonies were infested by the mite, with varying prevalence rates across the regions: 95.8% in Oromia, 85.2% in Amhara and 71.9% in SNNPR, indicating the widespread nature of the parasite throughout the country. The varroa infestation levels were lower in local hives (2.6 ± 5.9) than in frame hives (5.0 ± 0.9), and significantly higher in brood bees (5.6 ± 0.8) than in adult bees (1.93 ± 0.17) (p &lt; 0.001). Possible factors contributing to the varied mite prevalence and infestation levels in the country include differences in agro‐ecology, beekeeping practices, host age preference and the nature of bee hives. Therefore, our study provides insights into the current status of varroa prevalence and associated factors across regions in Ethiopia. Further investigation is required to explore the probable impact of the parasite on the health and productivity of local honey bees, in order to design future monitoring strategies.

Cold storage as part of a Varroa management strategy: effects on honey bee colony performance, mite levels and stress biomarkers

Placing honey bee colonies in cold storage has been proposed as a way to induce a pause in brood production as part of a Varroa mite treatment plan. Here, we exposed colonies to combinations of with or without an October cold storage period and with or without a subsequent miticide application. We then measured the effects of those treatments on colony-level variables (i.e. colony size, Varroa infestation level, survivorship and hive weight and temperature) and pooled individual-level variables that are associated with nutritional and stress responses. Colonies were assessed before and after cold storage, and again post winter, for a total duration of about 5 months, and the experiment was repeated. Brood levels were significantly lower after cold storage, and hive temperatures indicated that most or all brood had emerged after about two weeks in cold storage. However, Varroa levels at the end of the experiments in February were not significantly different among treatment groups. Colonies kept outside (not subjected to cold storage) and treated with a miticide had higher survivorship on average than any other treatment group, but no other group comparisons were significant, and long-term impact of cold storage on adult bee populations and on colony thermoregulation was low. The bee forage environment was also very different between the 2 years of the study, as rainfall and bee forage availability were much higher the second year. Colonies were over 2.5 times larger on average the second year compared to the first, both in terms of adult bee mass and brood area, and expression levels of nutrition and stress response genes were also significantly higher the second year. The results indicate that limited cold storage would likely have little long-term impact on most colony and individual measures of health, but for such a strategy to succeed levels of stressors, such as Varroa, may also need to be low.

Assessment of the socio-economic impacts associated with the arrival of apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata) in Mwea irrigation scheme, Kenya.

In Kenya, rice (Oryza sativa L.) is mainly produced under irrigation by small-scale farmers. Mwea irrigation scheme (MIS) in Kirinyaga County accounts for 80-88% of rice production. Here, rice is the main source of livelihood and a source of revenue generation for the county. However, a recently established invasive freshwater snail, Pomacea canaliculata (Lamarck) (family: Ampullariidae), a species of apple snail, presents a serious threat to rice production. Household surveys, focus group discussions and key informant interviews highlight apple snail as a serious problem in MIS. Households that observed at least a moderate level of infestation (>20% of cultivated area) experienced significant reductions in rice yield (~14%) and net rice income (~60%). Farmers reported increased use of chemical pesticides for management of apple snail. In addition, the cost of hired labor for physical removal of egg masses and snails is resulting in substantial negative effects on net income. Farmer age, area of land owned, responsibility for decision-making, receipt of extension advice, training, and membership of a farmer organization, were all statistically significant variables to explain farmers awareness of the need for area-wide apple snail management. Strategies to limit the spread of apple snail are urgently needed. A Multi-Institutional Technical Team (MITT) has been established to spearhead management efforts and consolidate advice to farmers on how to manage apple snail. However, without action to mitigate spread, the consequences could be disastrous for rice production and food security in Kenya, and for other rice growing regions across Africa. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Implementation of Integrated Pest Management and Non-IPM in Rice Plants (Case Study in Kampar Subdistrict, Kampar Regency, Riau Province, Indonesia)

The purpose of this study is to descriptively analyze the extent of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and non-IPM practices in Kampar District, Kampar Regency. This research uses a descriptive method aimed at gathering information through questionnaires, direct observations, and interviews. The subjects of the study consisted of 38 IPM rice farmers and 62 non-IPM rice farmers. The results of the study indicate that both IPM and non-IPM farmers in Kampar District have implemented practices for cultivating healthy crops. The distinguishing factor between IPM and non-IPM farmers lies in pest and disease control. IPM farmers consistently monitor their fields as the basis for making decisions on pest and disease control measures. IPM farmers use superior and locally superior seeds, while non-IPM farmers predominantly use local seeds. IPM farmers prioritize preventive measures in pest and disease control, resorting to the application of chemical pesticides only when the infestation reaches an economic threshold. Non-IPM farmers control pests and diseases using chemical pesticides periodically without considering the level of infestation. The participation of farmers in IPM programs and farmer groups influences their adoption of healthy crop cultivation practices and IPM. Non-IPM farmers perceive pest and disease control using chemical pesticides as more practical and yielding quicker results. However, they are not aware that the indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides increases production costs, poses risks to themselves and the environment. This lack of awareness contributes to the low adoption rate of IPM among farmers.

Effect of Temperature and Insect Infestation Levels on Oxygen Depletion in Hermetic Storage.

Hermetic storage methods are effective at protecting grain against insect pests. Biotic and abiotic factors influence oxygen depletion during hermetic storage. We investigated the dual effects of temperature and initial pest infestation level on oxygen depletion during airtight storage. Glass jars filled with cowpea grain were infested (25 or 50 adult cowpea bruchids), then hermetically sealed and stored at 20, 30, or 40 °C for 30 days. Oxygen depletion, relative humidity, and temperature were monitored. Germination, grain moisture content, grain damage and weight loss, and adult emergence were assessed. Oxygen depletion varied by temperature and insect infestation level. However, 30 °C was the optimum temperature for oxygen depletion (reaching 5% or less in 10 days) regardless of insect infestation level. No changes were observed in germination and grain moisture content, minimal grain damage, or weight loss (<1%). Only at 20 °C were adult insects able to survive after 30 days and emerged 45 days post-treatment under normoxia. Therefore, hermetic storage containers should remain closed for more than 30 days to minimize re-infestation of grain in areas where average ambient temperatures rarely exceed 23 °C. Further research is needed to assess the effect of low temperatures on oxygen depletion and insect survival in hermetic storage beyond 30 days.

Phenotypic evaluation of genetic resistance to the tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus in Argentine Creole cattle

The objective of this work was to characterize the Argentine Creole cattle breed through the identification of individual phenotypic variations in the levels of infestation with Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. We evaluated 179 heifers exposed to successive artificial infestations from 2015 to 2018, achieving a total of 663 observations. Tick counts were assessed with the linear mixed model, considering year of evaluation, time of infestation, dam's age and nutritional status during the evaluated period as fixed effects. The average tick count value obtained allowed to classify the breed as highly resistant to the tick charge (99.3%). Although the previous nutritional condition of the animals did not affect the individual charge response, weight gain during the trial showed a significantly negative correlation. We conclude that the Argentine Creole breed is an attractive genetic alternative for cattle breeding in endemic regions, either as a pure breed or a cross-breed.

Quantification and identification of damage caused by pests and fungi in dried figs from orchards with different levels of agronomic management in the main production areas of extremadura (SW Spain)

This work aimed to evaluate the effect of agronomic management and water regime on the number of lesions, levels of insect infestation and microbiological quality of dried figs in Extremadura. Dried fig samples from 18 orchards were collected. The results showed that birds were the primary pests, causing damage to dried figs, followed by insects and fungi. The effects of orchard management were more pronounced under irrigated conditions, with the percentage of undamaged dried figs and the number of insect-free fruits rising significantly with increasing management. Under rainfed conditions, the level of orchard management did not significantly influence damage. In addition, insects were detected in both damaged and undamaged dry figs. Cadra figulilella, Carpophilus hemipterus and Ceratitis capitata were the most common species. Regarding mycobiota, orchard conditions did not significantly affect fungi counts, but they did influence species composition. Aspergillus spp. were predominant under all conditions, followed by Alternaria spp. under irrigated conditions. This work provides relevant information on the different biotic agents that affect dried figs, showing that a higher level of management under irrigated conditions reduces pest incidence. Such knowledge is essential for designing control methods to obtain higher quality fruits.

Effect of exclusion net timing of deployment and color on Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) infestation in pear and apple orchards

The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål, 1855) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is an invasive pest species native to East Asia that has become the major pest for many crops, causing serious economic damage. The occurrence of this invasive pest leads to an increase in broad-spectrum insecticides applications, often with limited results in H. halys management. Exclusion netting based on insect-proof nets is considered an environmentally friendly tactic that may potentially reduce H. halys infestation and damage. In a first experiment, during two growing seasons we investigated whether the timing of exclusion netting deployment affected season-long H. halys infestation and impact on apple and pear production. A second experiment considered the effect of netting color. Our results confirm that insect-proof nettings are effective in controlling H. halys infestations in fruit orchards, also observing an effect of timing of netting deployment on H. halys adult infestation, especially in apple orchards. Netting deployment could be delayed until the growing fruit phase on pear orchards, while on apple orchards it should be performed at flower fading phase. Brown marmorated stink bug infestation and damage were also influenced by the netting color, with black nets having higher infestation levels and fruit damage than white ones. Within an integrated pest management framework, early net deployment and the use of clear color nettings should be considered to reduce H. halys infestation and its damage in pome fruit crops.

An economic evaluation of cattle tick acaricide-resistances and the financial losses in subtropical dairy farms of Ecuador: A farm system approach.

Estimates of economic losses in cattle due to tick infestations in subtropical areas are limited, such as in Ecuador. Ticks affect animal production and health, but those direct effects are difficult to estimate since financial exercises carried out in farms consider both costs of the inputs and revenues. This study aims to quantify the costs of inputs involved in milk production and to know the role of acaricide treatment in the production costs on dairy farms in subtropical zones using a farming system approach. Regression and classification trees were used to study the relationship between tick control, acaricide resistance and the presence of high level of tick infestation in the farm system. Even though there was no significant direct association between high levels of tick infestation and the presence of acaricide resistance in ticks, a more complex structure for resistances operates in the manifestation of high tick infestation involving levels of farm technology and no acaricide resistance. Farms with higher levels of technology allocate a lower percentage of sanitary expenses to control ticks (13.41%) in comparison to semi-technified (23.97%) and non-technified farms (32.49%). Likewise, more technified and bigger herds have a lower annual expenditure on acaricide treatment (1.30% of the production budget equivalent to 8.46 USD per animal) compared to non-technified farms where it can represent more than 2.74% of the production budget and where the absence of cypermethrin resistance increases the treatment cost to 19.50 USS per animal annually. These results can motivate the development of information campaigns and control programmes targeted to the reality of small and medium farms that are the most affected in terms of the money they invest in controlling ticks.

Weed infestation of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) crops

Purpose. Determination of the species composition of weeds in switchgrass crops and their influence on the formation of biomass productivity. Methods. Field, laboratory, quantitative-weighing, calculation-comparative, mathematical-statistical. Results. The results of studies on weed infestation of switchgrass crops and methods of their control are highlighted. A mixed type of weediness was observed in the crops, consisting of 19 species from 8 families, with a predominance of annual dicotyledonous species (75.0-87.2%). While in the third (91.7-95.1%) and fifth (61.0-91.7%) years of vegetation, perennial dicot species such as Erigeron canadensis, Lactuc aserriola L., Artemisia annua L., thistles ones, annual dicotyledons were not present. When analyzing the quantitative composition of weeds in the first year of vegetation on the weedy control, high level of weed infestation was observed, which amounted to 176 pcs./m2, in the second and third years 103-105 pcs./m2, in the fourth – 74 pcs./m2 and in the fifth – 39 pcs./m2 . In the variants where weed control was used in the third and subsequent years a decrease in the number of weeds by 83.5-88.4% was noted compared to the control. The use of herbicides on crops ensured efficiency in the first year of vegetation at the level of 72.3-76.9%, while in the fifth year it was 95.3-96.2%. Weed control allowed increasing the biomass yield to 10.7-10.8 t/ha, while the weeded control yielded 8.8 t/ha. Conclusions. The use of herbicides (Dialen super 464 SL, Caliber 50) led to a decrease in the number of weed plants from 28.6% in the first year of vegetation to 88.3% in the fifth year, providing a 72.3-97.6% efficiency depending on the year of vegetation of the crop. Weed controll in the fifth year of crop vegetation made it possible to obtain 11.0 t/ha of dry biomass, 11.9 t/ha of solid fuel, 220 GJ/ha energy from fuel.

Studies on the relationship of weather on Fall armyworm damage in maize (Zea mays L.) under different growing environments

Fall armyworm is a recently occurring invasive pest in India, the most important defoliator causing drastic damage to maize production. Hence, the present study aimed to understand the temporal infestation level of Fall armyworms on maize (Zea mays L.) with weather patterns. Field experiments were conducted during Summer (February-May) and Rainy seasons, 2022 (August-December) at Agro Climate Research Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. Three different growing environments (GE1, GE2 and GE3) were created by providing staggered sowing. Regression models were developed for per cent leaf damage against three-days lagged (LT3) and seven-day lagged (LT7) weather variables. Results showed that irrespective of growing environments, weather variables showed negative correlation (Tmax: r = -0.57, -0.81*, -0.31; SSH: -0.30, -0.48, -0.39; Tmean: -0.49, -0.23, -0.30; and SR: -0.48, -0.94*, -0.40) during summer season whereas same variables (i.e Tmax =0.62*, 0.41, 0.33; SSH = 0.09, 0.68*, 0.24; Tmean = 0.29, 0.32, 0.44; and SR=0.13, 0 .67*, 0.26 ) showed a positive correlation with PLD. Rainfall exhibits positive relation (0.06, 0.54, 0.53) and negative correlation (-0.64*, -0.10, -0.02) during summer and rainy season, respectively. Among the regression models, LT7 model had higher R2 (0.65 and 0.76) than LT3 (0.57 and 0.68) during summer and rainy seasons, respectively. These models had good regression values of 0.56 and 0.70 during Rainy and Summer, respectively. It was concluded that Tmax (32.9 °C), Tmin (23.7 °C), Tmean (28.3 °C), RH-I (85.6%), RH-II (56.4%), SSH (4.1), SR (274.6 cal cm-2 m-2), afternoon cloud cover (4.8 okta) and weekly total rainfall (10.2 mm) were very conducive for the greater leaf damage.

Tick communities of cattle in smallholder rural livestock production systems in sub-Saharan Africa

BackgroundThe majority of the African population lives in rural areas and depends on agriculture for their livelihoods. To increase the productivity and sustainability of their farms, they need access to affordable yield-enhancing inputs of which parasite control is of paramount importance. We therefore determined the status of current tick species with the highest economic impact on cattle by sampling representative numbers of animals in each of seven sub-Saharan countries.MethodsData included tick species’ half-body counts from approximately 120 cattle at each of two districts per country, collected four times in approximately 1 year (to include seasonality). Study sites were chosen in each country to include high cattle density and tick burden.ResultsEast Africa (Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania) showed overall a higher diversity and prevalence in tick infestations compared to West African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Nigeria). In East Africa, Amblyomma variegatum (vector of Ehrlichia ruminantium), Rhipicephalus microplus (Babesia bovis, B. bigemina, Anaplasma marginale), R. evertsi evertsi (A. marginale) and R. appendiculatus (Theileria parva) were the most prevalent tick species of economic importance. While the latter species was absent in West Africa, here both A. variegatum and R. microplus occurred in high numbers. Rhipicephalus microplus had spread to Uganda, infesting half of the cattle sampled. Rhipicephalus microplus is known for its invasive behaviour and displacement of other blue tick species, as observed in other East and West African countries. Individual cattle with higher body weights, as well as males, were more likely to be infested. For six tick species, we found reduced infestation levels when hosts were treated with anti-parasiticides.ConclusionsThese baseline data allow the determination of possible changes in presence and prevalence of ticks in each of the countries targeted, which is of importance in the light of human-caused climate and habitat alterations or anthropogenic activities. As many of the ticks in this study are vectors of important pathogens, but also, as cattle may act as end hosts for ticks of importance to human health, our study will help a wide range of stakeholders to provide recommendations for tick infestation surveillance and prevention.Graphical abstract

IDENTIFIKASI SOIL TRANSMITTED HELMINT PADA FESES TERNAK BABI MENGGUNAKAN METODE DIRECT SLIDE

Until now, parasitic diseases that infect humans and animals have not been considered in Indonesia because these diseases do not cause clinical symptoms (subclinical). Gastrointestinal disease caused by worm parasites is a systemic disease that attacks the digestive tract of cattle. Traditional pig farming methods and poor hygiene are the main reasons for the spread of zoonoses that can be transmitted from pigs to humans. This study aims to identify nematode hosts by examining worm eggs in pig feces using the direct slide method. From a total of 20 stool samples, 3 samples were positive for nematode worm eggs. A stool sample that is identified as positive for worm eggs determines the level of parasitic infestation. Worm egg detection was carried out in the laboratory of the Faculty of Health Sciences University and analyzed descriptively, then the number of worm eggs was counted to determine the prevalence of endoparasites.

PENGONTROLAN PARASIT SALURAN PENCERNAAN KAMBING PERANAKAN ETAWA MELALUI PENGGUNAAN SUPLEMEN PAKAN DAN HERBAL

This study aims to control the gastrointestinal helminth parasite of Peranakan Etawa (PE) goats through the use of herb and feed supplements. A total of 20 PE goats with an average body weight of 19.74 ± 4.21 kg were divided into 4 groups. This study used a Completely Randomized Block Design consisting of 4 groups and 4 treatments. The treatment given to goats was P0: without Urea Molasses Mineral Block (UMMB) supplements and anthelmintic, P1: UMMB 100 g (1 day), P2: Albendazole (1 day), P3: UMMB 100 g + Curcuma xanthorrhiza (3 days), P4: UMMB 100 g + Curcuma xanthorrhiza (7 days). The data collected were prevalence, type of gastrointestinal parasites, and egg count per gram (EPG) of feces. Examination of EPG using the Floatation method. The results of the study obtained the prevalence of helminth parasites 100%. The types of helminth parasites found are Strongyloides, Haemonchus, Bunostomus, Dicrocoelium, Avitellina, and Oesophagustomum. The EPG reduction in UMMB and UMMB+Curcuma xanthorrhiza treatment (3 days) was the highest at around 64.88%. It was concluded that all goats were infested with helminth parasites with a mild level of infestation (epg &lt; 100). The types of helminth parasites found are Strongyloides, Haemonchus, Bunostomus, Dicrocoelium, Avitellina, and Oesophagustomum. The use of feed supplements and herbs can reduce helminth parasites infections in PE goats