Low effective population sizes in Amblyomma variegatum, the tropical bont tick.

Effective population sizes have rarely been estimated in ticks despite the importance of this parameter for evaluating the evolutionary and adaptive potential of tick populations. The present study was aimed at evaluating the effective population sizes of Amblyomma variegatum, the tropical bont tick, in three villages in Burkina Faso. For this purpose, microsatellites markers were developed. Eight out of 19 assessed markers provided good amplification results with 4 to 24 alleles recorded per marker on 216 genotyped ticks. The within-samples polymorphism was congruent with Hardy-Weinberg expectations at four markers while sex linkage and/or null alleles were observed at the others. As sampling involved two tick generations, effective population sizes were independently estimated by two methods insensitive to heterozygosity: the first one is based on linkage disequilibrium analysis within a single cohort while the second uses the changes in allele frequencies across generations. Both methods estimated the number of reproducing ticks ranging from two to a few tens reproductive adults per village and cohort. Such small estimates are congruent with the rarity of records of acaricide resistance in A. variegatum.

Fipronil 1% pour-on: further studies of its effects against lab-reared Glossina palpalis gambiensis.

In order to assess the residual effects of fipronil 1% on tsetse fly survival, male Glossina palpalis gambiensis were released on non-treated and treated cattle, with 0.1 ml of fipronil/kg b.w. as a pour-on formulation. In a second trial, the female fecundity performances were evaluated by feeding teneral females on the same cattle. These females were then mated and their production parameters monitored, as well as the survival of freshly emerged flies. Fipronil had a significant effect on tsetse fly survival (p < 0.001). Over a period of 30 days, up to 40% of tsetse fly mortality was observed within 72 h after tsetse were released. The residual effects ranged between 51 and 74 days when tsetse flies were released twice within a 15-day interval in the presence of a treated animal. When tsetse flies were fed on treated cattle through a parafilm membrane, 92 days after the treatment, no significant effect of fipronil was observed on the reproductive performance of females, i.e., as well as on fecundity (p = 0.948) and emergence rates (p = 0.743), or puparial weight (p = 0.422). This was also the case for the survival of young flies, with no difference observed between the two groups. After this study, it is confirmed that fipronil is highly effective against tsetse flies. Its efficacy in controlling ticks is already known but other externalities such as the control of biting insects add value to its use.

Review of cattle ticks (Acari, Ixodida) in Ivory Coast and geographic distribution of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, an emerging tick in West Africa.

The exotic tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus was discovered in Ivory Coast in 2007 and then gradually in other countries in West Africa. It is known to induce significant losses in farming and to replace other species of the same genus. In order to contribute to improve health and productivity of cattle in Ivory Coast regarding the emergence of this dreaded tick, a study was conducted to determine the current geographic distribution of the tick R. (B.) microplus and review cattle ticks in general. To this end, 23,460 ticks were collected from 180 farms located throughout the country. Ten species of ticks belonging to the genus Rhipicephalus (including those of the subgenus Boophilus), Hyalomma and Ambyomma were identified. It was found that the exotic tick R. (B.) microplus has invaded the entire Ivorian territory and is now the main cattle tick (63.6% of ticks collected), followed by Amblyomma variegatum that remains still dominant in the North. The population of indigenous species of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) is in drastic decline.

Detection of Rickettsia aeschlimannii and Rickettsia africae in ixodid ticks from Burkina Faso and Somali Region of Ethiopia by new real-time PCR assays.

In the framework of cooperation for development projects in Burkina Faso and Ethiopia, we collected ixodid ticks from cattle, small ruminants and camels. We optimized new TaqMan Probe real-time PCR assays to detect Rickettsia aeschlimannii and Rickettsia africae OmpA gene in the collected samples. Rickettsia africae was identified in 75.0% Amblyomma variegatum (95%CI: 56.6-88.5), while R. aeschlimannii in 24.0% Hyalomma truncatum (95%CI: 9.4-45.1) and 50.0% H. rufipes (95%CI: 29.9-70.0) collected from cattle in different provinces throughout Burkina Faso. Ticks from the Libaan zone, Somali Region of Ethiopia, were also infected by R. africae (28.5% prevalence in Amblyomma gemma, 95%CI: 14.7-46.0) and R. aeschlimannii (27.0% H. truncatum, 95%CI: 5.0-62.9; 88.3% H. rufipes, 95%CI: 60.5-99.3). All tested ticks were adults. The developed diagnostic tools were highly sensitive and enabled us to rapidly classify R. aeschlimannii and R. africae, which were identified in Burkina Faso and in the Somali Region of Ethiopia for the first time. Further studies are needed to assess the zoonotic risk and prevalence of infection in local human populations, who have high contact rates with ticks and their animal hosts.

Cattle ticks in Cameroon: is Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus absent in Cameroon and the Central African region?

In most parts of the world, ticks are rapidly developing resistance to commonly used acaricides thus rendering control difficult. This constraint is further compounded by the introduction of new species in areas where they did not exist before. Such is the case with the introduction into and rapid spread of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus in some countries of West Africa. With the looming threat of its further spread in the region, the objective of the present study was to update knowledge on cattle ticks in Cameroon. Among 19,189 ticks collected monthly from 60 animals in 5 herds from March 2012 to February 2013, Rh. (B.) decoloratus was the most abundant species with a relative prevalence of 62.2%, followed by Amblyomma variegatum (28.4%), Rh. (B.) annulatus (0.2%), Rh. (B.) geigyi (0.03%), other Rhipicephalus spp. (8.4%) and Hyalomma spp. (0.3%). Rh. (B.) decoloratus and A. variegatum were also the most widely distributed in space. Infestation rate was generally high, with average tick count/animal of about 80 during peak periods. Tick distribution and abundance in the different sites was as varied as the underlying factors, among which the most important were management systems and climatic factors. The effects of rainfall and temperature were confounded by other factors and difficult to evaluate. However, it appears tick development depends among other factors, on a humidity threshold, above which there is not much more effect. Rh. microplus was not found during this study, but more extensive tick collections have to be done to confirm this. In conclusion, cattle tick infestation in Cameroon remains an important cause for concern. Farmers need assistance in the use and management of acaricides in order to increase their efficiency and reduce the development of resistance. Although Rh. microplus was not found, its introduction from other West African countries is imminent if adequate measures, especially in the control and limitation of animal movements, are not taken.

Exploiting the heterogeneous drop-off rhythm of Amblyomma variegatum nymphs to reduce pasture infestation by adult ticks.

Tick distribution depends on the drop-off rhythm of the previous stage and on the suitability for tick survival of the environment where they are disseminated. Studies were implemented in Burkina Faso to assess detachment pattern of engorged Amblyomma variegatum nymphs. Experiments were carried out with naturally infested cattle kept in a paddock or monitored when grazing community pasture. In the pasture, 80% of the nymphs detached between 14.00 h and 17.00 h while less than 25% did so in the paddock. Further investigation was implemented to assess whether the density of adult ticks might be modified by herd management. During the early dry season, zebus grazed in 4 plots fenced in natural savannahs and fallows. Two of the plots were used in the morning and the two others in the afternoon. Six months later, zebus were put in these plots, in turn, on 9 occasions. The number of A. variegatum adults picked up by the cattle in each plot was highly variable: they captured more ticks in the plots installed on good lush savannah and 3-fold more ticks in those where the herd had grazed in the afternoon during the previous dry season. An integrated tick control strategy taking these results into account is proposed.