Integrating indigenous and biological knowledge for improved control of ticks for pastoral zebu cattle of small holder farmers in Njombe, Tanzania

Abstract

We have made a comprehensive assessment of control methods for ticks practiced by farmers who keep pastoral zebu cattle in Njombe district, Iringa region in Tanzania. A total of 139 cattle belonging to 24 herds in which different regimes for tick control are practical were investigated from March 2001 to February 2002. The regimes used by farmers for tick control were (1) strategic acaricide application (number of cattle, n = 44), strategic use of a local herb, 'utupa' (Tephrosia vogelii) (n - 8), absolute absence of any control measure against ticks (n = 87), and a regime of occasional (strategic) application of acaricides (n = 13). The effectiveness of the different control regimes was evaluated by comparison of (1) prevalence of Theileria parasites in the blood and lymph of animals (2) the level of tick infestation on the cattle and (3) degree of immunity in ECF as determined by the level of specific antibodies to the disease. Lower prevalence of parasites in blood and lymph of animals was demonstrated in animals where tick control was practiced, than in animals managed without tick control. Comparison of tick infestation on the cattle revealed highest tick burden on cattle managed without tick control, and lowest on cattle under acaricide and utupa regimes. The seroprevalence to T. purva was shown to take two different trends, whereby lower antibody levels were associated with cattle kept tick free. In both parameters, tick infestation and seroprevalence, results obtained with utupa-treated cattle were closely comparable to those from acaricide-treated animals. Morbiditics tended to be simultaneously associated with both age and type of tick control regime. In this report we compare the advantages of difference tick control regimes and show the value of indigenous knowledge in the control of ticks and tick-borne diseases.