Characterization of the Tick Species Present on Livestock and Dogs in Western Uganda
Location
Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health (JPHCOPH)
Session Format
Poster Presentation
Co-Presenters and Faculty Mentors or Advisors
Dr. Mariana Eremeeva, Faculty Advisor
Abstract
Background: Twenty-seven tick species of medical and veterinary importance are known in Uganda. Ticks of the Rhipicephalus sanguineus complex are among the most dominant; however, contemporary information about the circulating species and their reliable identification are not available.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to characterize ticks from Uganda infesting livestock and establish their host associations.
Methods: Ticks were collected from 22 goats, 2 sheep, 6 cows, and 3 dogs, observed under a dissecting microscope and identified using standard keys. High resolution images of representative specimens were obtained using a BK Plus Lab System microscope.
Results: We examined 318 ticks including 135 adults (56.3% males, 43.7% females), 165 nymphs (51.9%), and 18 (5.66%) larvae. 90.9% of nymphs were collected from goats while adults were commonly removed from cattle (28.1%) and sheep (22.96%). Most ticks (259, 81.4%) belonged to the R. sanguineus complex. Thirteen ticks were Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (4.09%, 3 sheep, 1 goat, 9 cow) and 29 Rhipicephalus evertsi (9.12%, all from cows). Sixteen Haemaphysalis paraleachi (5%) were found on dogs, and one Haemaphysalis parmata was from a goat.
Conclusions: This study expands existing knowledge of tick diversity in Uganda and corroborates the prominence of R. sanguineus s.l. Further research will use molecular tools for tick identification.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Presentation Type and Release Option
Presentation (Open Access)
Recommended Citation
Clark, Darby, "Characterization of the Tick Species Present on Livestock and Dogs in Western Uganda" (2021). GS4 Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium. 38.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/research_symposium/2021/2021/38
Characterization of the Tick Species Present on Livestock and Dogs in Western Uganda
Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health (JPHCOPH)
Background: Twenty-seven tick species of medical and veterinary importance are known in Uganda. Ticks of the Rhipicephalus sanguineus complex are among the most dominant; however, contemporary information about the circulating species and their reliable identification are not available.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to characterize ticks from Uganda infesting livestock and establish their host associations.
Methods: Ticks were collected from 22 goats, 2 sheep, 6 cows, and 3 dogs, observed under a dissecting microscope and identified using standard keys. High resolution images of representative specimens were obtained using a BK Plus Lab System microscope.
Results: We examined 318 ticks including 135 adults (56.3% males, 43.7% females), 165 nymphs (51.9%), and 18 (5.66%) larvae. 90.9% of nymphs were collected from goats while adults were commonly removed from cattle (28.1%) and sheep (22.96%). Most ticks (259, 81.4%) belonged to the R. sanguineus complex. Thirteen ticks were Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (4.09%, 3 sheep, 1 goat, 9 cow) and 29 Rhipicephalus evertsi (9.12%, all from cows). Sixteen Haemaphysalis paraleachi (5%) were found on dogs, and one Haemaphysalis parmata was from a goat.
Conclusions: This study expands existing knowledge of tick diversity in Uganda and corroborates the prominence of R. sanguineus s.l. Further research will use molecular tools for tick identification.
