A Survey on Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases of Cattle with Particular Reference to East Coast Fever in Fangak County, Jongeli State, South Sudan

This study was carried out in Fangak County at four localities: Hai Toggar, Bichol kun village and Hai Moaazkerfoqu in Phoumpayam locality as suspected areas for East Coast fever (ECF) (Group A) and Kuerkan in Manjangpayams non suspected area for ECF (Group B). These groups A and B were based on animal movement, trade business and intermarriages (animals paid for dowry). The study aimed to identify the tick species prevalent in the area and the impact of ethnoveterinary practice on ticks responsible for transmission of tick-borne diseases (TBDs) with emphasis on ECF. A total of 391 ticks, 150 sera and 150 blood smears were collected from cattle of different age groups. A total of 120 serum samples were tested using indirect Polymorphic Immunodominant Molecule (PIM) ELISA to detect Theileria parva antibodies. The results indicated that 5/44 (11.4%) samples from non suspected area (group B) and 48/76 (63.2%) samples from suspected area (Group A) revealed antibodies. The overall positivity was 53/120 (44.17%) which was highly significant (P≤0.001) but there was a insignificant correlation with sex, age and coat colour of the animals. Three tick genera and seven species were recorded. The genera were Amblyomma, Hyalomma and Rhipicephalus. The species were A. variegatum, A. lepidum, H. rufipes, R. (B.) decoloratus, R. (B.) annulatus, R. e. evertsi and R. sanguineus. The most abundant tick species were A. variegatum, R. (B.) decoloratus, H. rufipes and R. (B.) annulatus constituting 64.7%, 12.8%, 6.7% and 5.6%, respectively. The lowest ticks recorded were R. e. evertsi with a prevalence rate of 1.3%, A. lepidum 4.3% and R. sanguineus 4.6%. These results were not significant (P> 0.05) for locations, sex, age groups and animal coat colour. The male and female ticks represented 65.5% and 34.5%, respectively. No blood pathogens for TBDs were detected, while four (0.03%) animals were positive for trypanosomes. The outcome of questionnaires showed poor knowledge on ECF and its vector in the area. It is concluded that there is no R. appendiculatus in Fangak area; while T. parva antibodies were detected. The prevalence of other TBD vectors needs to be elucidated by further work in this area