Abstract:

Ankole cattle have been recently introduced in eastern and northern Uganda, traditionally known for rearing Nkedi Zebu. This cross-sectional study was conducted to establish the responses to natural tick and tickborne infections in terms of mean tick counts, mean antibody titres and mean packed cell volumes among the Nkedi Zebu and Ankole cattle. A total of 531 (381 Nkedi Zebu and 150 Ankole) randomly selected cattle were studied. The cattle came from six villages of Akumoi, Aswii, Osamito, Kamod, Opungure, and Okokoma in Soroti district. Packed cell volumes using Haematocrit centrifugation technique (HCT), tick counts of Rhipicephalus appendiculalus, Boophilus decoloratus, and Amblyomma variegatum, antibody titres using the antibody ELISA tests against Theileria parva, Babesia bigemina, and Anaplasma marginale were determined. Results showed that the Ankole cattle aged 7-12 months had a significantly higher (p = 0.04) mean tick counts of R. appendiculalus (24.2 ± 3.2) compared to the Nkedi Zebu (17.8 ± 1.3). The mean tick counts of R. appendiculalus, B. decoloratus, and A. variegatum on Ankole cattle (23.8 ± 0.8, 9.6 ± 0.6, 2.4 ± 0.2) were similar (p>0.05) to those of Nkedi Zebu (24.4 ± 0.5, 10.4 ± 0.34, 3.1 ± 0.1) respectively. The Ankole cattle had a significantly (p= 0.04) lower antibody titre against T. parva infection (1.2 ± 0.1) compared to the Nkedi Zebu cattle (1.8 ± 0.1). Antibodies titres of Ankole cattle against B. bigemina and A. marginale infections (2.2 ± 0.04, 0.05 ± 0.05) were similar (p>0.05) to those of Nkedi Zebu cattle (2.1 ± 0.05, 0.06 ± 0.05) respectively. The sero-prevalences of ECF, babesiosis and anaplasmosis (100%, 100% and 58%) in Ankole cattle were not significantly (p.0.05) different from that of Nkedi Zebu cattle (99%, 100% and 57%) respectively. The Nkedi Zebu are better primed to produce antibodies against T. parva and have better mechanisms to maintain a lower tick burden than Ankole cattle at weaning and as they are turned out to pastures. Therefore, extra tick control interventions are required for Ankole calves for them to thrive better in this region. In mixed herds both the Nkedi Zebu and Ankole calves require extra tick control interventions.