Chemical tick control practices in southwestern and northwestern Uganda
Loading...
Date
2018
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Ticks and tick-borne diseases
Abstract
Tick acaricide failure is one of the leading challenges to cattle production in Uganda. To gain an understanding
into the possible drivers of acaricide failure, this study characterized the current chemical tick control practices
in the southwestern (Mbarara, Mitooma and Rukungiri districts) and northwestern (Adjumani district) regions of
Uganda. A total of 85 farms participated in a survey that utilized a semi-structured questionnaire. Moreover,
ticks were collected to determine the most common species on the farms. Tick acaricide failure was mainly
encountered in the districts where 95% (60/63) of the farms reared exotic cattle (dairy cross-breeds) under a
paddocking (fenced) system. In the northwestern region, local cattle were reared in communal grazing areas. All
farms used chemical acaricides for tick control, predominantly amidine (amitraz) (48%, 41/85) and co-formulated
organophosphates and pyrethroids (38%, 32/85). The spraying method was the most common (91%,
77/85) acaricide application technique, with cattle crush (81%, 69/85) as a common means of physical restraint.
Less than optimal tick control practices encountered included use of substandard equipment for spraying, inappropriate
dilutions, frequent interaction between animals in neighboring farms despite lack of synchronized
chemical tick control and malpractices in acaricide rotation. Only Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and R. (Boophilus)
decoloratus ticks were found in the southwestern region, where 51% (32/63) of the farmers used high acaricide
concentrations above the manufacturers’ recommendation. Farmers in the northwestern region used 2.2 times
less acaricide volume per cattle than those in the southwestern region, and more diverse tick species were
encountered. Toxic effects of acaricide to cattle and workers were reported by 13% (11/85) and 32% (27/85) of
the respondents, respectively. All 27 cases of human acaricide toxicity reported were from the southwestern
region. Overall, our findings may inform strategies for more prudent chemical tick control and safe acaricide
handling to benefit animal welfare, food safety and public health.
Description
Keywords
Acaricide resistance, Tick control, Rhipicephalus, (Boophilus) decoloratus
Citation
Vudriko, P., Okwee-Acai, J., Byaruhanga, J., Tayebwa, D. S., Okech, S. G., Tweyongyere, R., ... & Suzuki, H. (2018). Chemical tick control practices in southwestern and northwestern Uganda. Ticks and tick-borne diseases, 9(4), 945-955.