European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

BOOPHILUS (RHIPICEPHALUS) DECOLORATUS, RHIPICEPHALUS SIMPSONI AND RHIPICEPHALUS LUNULATUS THREE SPECIES OF HARD TICKS (ACARI: IXODIDAE) COLLECTED FROM BORORO AND FULBE ZEBUS FROM CAMEROON INTRODUCED TO GABON BY INTERNATIONAL TRADE LIVESTOCK

Dieudonne Moubamba Mbina*

ABSTRACT

Background: Each year Gabon imports several thousand of cattle from Cameroon with the risk of introduction of ticks and tick borne diseases. Aim: To prevent the introduction of ticks and tick borne diseases in Gabon. Material and methods: 156 Bororo and Fulbe zebus aged between 5 and 6 years imported from Cameroon to Gabon have participated to this survey in the slaughterhouse of Libreville, ticks were collected from these cattle and identification keys were used for their identification. In order to evaluate the prevalence of the infestations of the tick species, the body cattle was divided in 6 anatomical areas. The dynamic of the adult tick species in cattle was studied by observing the presence or the absence of these arthropods throughout a year. Results: Three tick species Boophilus (Rhipicephalus) decoloratus, Rhipicephalus lunulatus and Rhipicephalus simpsoni were collected from these cattle, Boophilus decoloratus was the most significantly abundant tick species (97%) (P < 0.05). The highest significantly prevalences were observed in abdomen (X²= 115.93, P < 0.05) and the legs (X²= 115.93, P < 0.05) with the values of 76.3% and 23.7% respectively,Boophilus decoloratus was the only tick species which has most significantly infested the abdomen and the legs. Boophilus decoloratus was the unique tick species collected from cattle of Cameroon entering in Gabon throughout the year, Rhipicephalus lunulatus and Rhipicephalus simpsoni were observed 4 months over 12 and 3 months over 12 respectively in these animals. Conclusion: The study of fixation sites of tick species and the dynamics of adult ticks in the zebus imported from Cameroon to Gabon throughout the year is very useful to prevent the introduction of these arthropods and of tick borne diseases by treating properly cattle before crossing the border and also to monitor the life cycle of these foreigner ticks

Keywords: Ticks, Cameroon, Gabon, Cattle, Zoonotic diseases, Prevention