Knowledge and perceptions of traditional livestock keepers on tick-borne diseases and sero-prevalence of Theileria parva around Lake Victoria Basin

A study was conducted in three districts around Lake Victoria; Kisumu (Kenya), Kiruhura (Uganda) and Tarime (Tanzania) to assess the farmers’ perceptions on tick-borne diseases (TBDs) and resistance of their local cattle breeds to TBDs. Knowledge and perception of farmers on production constraints, tick species, TBDs and their control measures and resistance of local cattle to TBDs were assessed through individual interviews and group discussions. The extent of East Coast fever (ECF) infection in local cattle was assessed by measuring serum antibodies to Theileria parva. The prevalence of serum antibodies to Theileria parva was determined using an enzyme-linked immunoassay technique. The breeds kept were Nyanza zebu, Tarime zebu and Ankole in Kisumu, Tarime and Kiruhura, respectively. Livestock diseases were ranked as the most important constraints to cattle production. Tick-borne diseases ranked higher than the other diseases. Most livestock farmers knew well the signs of the TBDs. The main symptoms mentioned were circling/high stepping, red urine, hard dung and swollen lymphnodes for heart water, babesiosis, anaplasmosis and East Coast Fever (ECF), respectively. The most prevalent ticks were brown ear ticks (Rhipicephalus appendiculatus) (97.5%), blue ticks (Boophilus spp) (75.8%) and bont ticks (Amblyloma spp) (81.5%). About 85, 12.5 and 7.5% of the respondents in Kiruhura, Kisumu and Tarime, respectively, knew that ECF is caused by the presence of ticks on the animals. The majority of the farmers did not associate the other TBDs with ticks. The farmers (59%) were using acaricide to control ticks. The most common method of application was hand spraying. Most farmers used Oxytetracycline to treat all TBDs, however, some farmers (20%) used local herbs. About 75 to 92.5% of the farmers considered their breeds to be resistant to ticks and ECF. The reasons given included not applying acaricide for a long time, animals always carry ticks without getting sick or dieing and ECF affects only calves and not adult animals. The serum antibody prevalence was 80.1, 78.2 and 60% in Tarime, Ankole and Nyanza zebu cattle, respectively. The prevalence of antibodies to Theileria parva did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) between calves (75.5%), yearlings (80%) and adult animals (73.4%). It is concluded that Theileria parva infection in cattle around the Lake Victoria basin is highly prevalent. The farmers know the signs of ECF, but do not spray/dip their animals on a regular basis because of economic reasons and also they consider their breeds to be resistant to ticks and ECF.