Tick infestation and udder and teat damage in selected cattle herds of Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe

Abstract

A cross-sectional survey was conducted at six properties in the small-holder and commercial sector in Gwanda district of Matabeleland South Province, Zimbabwe. The study was conducted at Sivume and Nyandeni communal dip-tanks, at Blanket, Double cross, Judds and at Timber farms. The objective of the study was to ascertain the tick infestations, tick species and udder and teat damage of milking cows and heifers from selected cattle herds. The study was important as it would help animalhealth decision makers and farmers in knowing the prevailing tick genera and species in the study area and hence the potential for the occurrence of diseases associated with these ticks. Two hundred and eighty-six cattle were sampled and ticks were collected and sent to the Central Veterinary Laboratory for further characterisation. A total of eight tick species, comprising of Amblyomma hebraeum, Hyalomma truncatum, Hyalomma marginatum rufipes, Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Rhipicephalus zambeziensis and Rhipicephalus simus were identified. 53 % of the sampled cattle had some degree of udder and teat damage but very few farmers (2.6 %) treated their cattle for these conditions.