Summary
Tick collection on one side of the body and whole tail was performed weekly over one year on 11 Gambian N'Dama(Bos taurus) and 11 Gobra zebu(Bos indicus) cattle to assess breed susceptibility to naturally occurring ticks. Enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay was also performed to assess the serological prevalence ofAnaplasma marginale antigen andBabesia bigemina antibody. Packed red cell volume was measured and liveweight gain was recorded.
Significantly higher numbers ofAmblyomma variegatum (P<0·002) andHyalomma spp.(P<0·001) were found on Gobra zebu than on N'Dama cattle. The serological prevalence ofA. marginale antigen was significantly(P<0·001) lower in N'Dama breed, whilst no difference in the serological prevalence ofB. bigemina antibody was found between N'Dama and Gobra cattle. Packed red cell volume was negatively affected byA. marginale infection in both breeds, but to a lesser extent in N'Dama cattle. Liveweight gain was significantly(P<0·003) higher in N'Dama in comparison with Gobra cattle during the period of abundance ofA. variegatum andHyalomma spp. adults. The significantly lower burdens ofA. variegatum andHyalomma spp. ticks in Gambian N'Dama in comparison with Gobra zebu cattle confirms previous findings. It also shows a more deleterious effect of ticks and tick-borne diseases on animal production and health in Gobra zebu than in N'Dama cattle. The presence of a tick resistant trait in N'Dama cattle is suggested.
Résumé
Les tiques ont été collectées chaque semaine pendant un an sur un côté du corps, et sur la totalité de la queue, sur 11 bovins Ndama (Bos taurus) et sur 11 zébus Gobra (Bos indicus) afin de déterminer la sensibilité inhérente à la race dans les conditions d'infestation naturelles. Un test ELISA a également été réalisé pour rechercher la prévalence sérologique de l'antigène d'Anaplasma marginale et de l'anticorps deBabesia bigemina. L'hématocrite (PRC) a été mesuré et le gain des poids enregistré. Les comptages d'Amblyomma variegatum et deHyalomma spp ont été significativement plus élevés sur les Gobra que sur les Ndama avec respectivement p < 0,002 et p > 0,001. La prévalence sérologique de l'antigène d'Amblyomma marginale était significativement plus faible pour la race Ndama, alors qu'aucune différence n'a été trouvée dans celle des anticorps deB. bigemina entre les deux races. L'hématocrite a été négativement affecté par l'infection àA. marginale dans les deux races, mais à un moindre degré chez les Ndama. Le gain de poids était significativement plus élevé (pour p < 0,003) chez les Ndama, comparé à celui du bétail Gobra pendant la péroide oùA. variegatum etHyalomma spp se rencontraient en abondance à l'état adulte. La charge significativement plus basse d'A. variegatum et deHyalomma spp sur le bétail Ndama gambien comparée à celle du bétail Gobra confirme les précédentes découvertes. Elle révèle également que le rôle des tiques et des maladies transmises par les tiques sur la production et la santé animale est plus pernicieux chez le Gobra que chez le Ndama. La présence d'un facteur “résistance aux tiques” chez le bétail Ndama est suggérée.
Resumen
A lo largo de un año, se recolectaron garrapatas de la mitad del cuerpo y del total de la cola, una vez a la semana, en 11 animales N'dama (Bos taurus) y en 11 animales cebú Gobra (Bos indicus), para averiguar la susceptibilidad de raza a garrapatas adquirida de forma natural. Se utilizó la prueba ELISA para averiguar la prevalencia serológica frente al antígeno deAnaplasma marginale y frente al anticuerpo deBabesia bigemina. También se determinó el volumen corpuscular celular y se anotaron las ganancias de peso vivo.
Se encontraron números significativamente mas altos deAmblyomma variegatum (p < 0·002) eHyalomma spp. (p < 0·001) en el ganado cebú Gobra que en animales N'dama. La prevalencia serológica del antígeno frente aA. marginale fue significantivamente menor en ganado N'dama, no encontrándose diferencia en la prevalencia serológica de anticuerpos frente aBabesia bigemina entre ambas razas. La infección afectó negativamente al volumen corpuscular celular en ambas razas, dicho descenso siendo menor en el ganado N'dama. La ganancia de peso vivo fue significativamente mayor (p < 0·003) en el ganado N'dama que en el Gobra durante el período de abundancia de adultos deA. variegatum eHyalomma spp. El hecho de que la carga de las garrapatasA. variegatum eHyalomma spp. fuera significativamente menor en el ganado N'dama que en el cebú Gobra en Gambia viene a confirmar los resultados anteriores. También se demuestra que el efecto de las garrapatas y las enfermedades transmitidas por garrapatas en la producción y salud animal es más perjudicial en el ganado cebú Gobra que en el N'dama. Se puede sugerir la existencia de un factor de resistencia a garrapatas en el ganado N'dama.
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Mattioli, R.C., Bah, M., Kora, S. et al. Susceptibility to different tick genera in Gambian N'Dama and Gobra zebu cattle exposed to naturally occurring tick infestations. Trop Anim Health Prod 27, 95–105 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02236320
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02236320