Acaricide resistance of Rhipicephalus decoloratus ticks collected from communal grazing cattle in South Africa.

Objective: This study aimed to determine acaricide resistance in ticks collected from grazing cattle between November 2018 and May 2019 in Elundini, Senqu, and Walter Sisulu Local Municipalities in the northeastern region of the Eastern Cape Province.

Materials And Methods: A sample of 20-30 adult engorged female ticks were collected from at least 10 randomly selected cattle (highly tick-infested) at each dip tank and placed into the labelled plastic collection bottles containing absorbent paper and with a perforated lid at a constant room temperature of ±28°C and >70% relative humidity until resistance testing commenced. The Shaw larval immersion test method was used to determine larvae resistance to various acaricide concentration levels [amidines, organophosphate (OP), and synthetic pyrethroids (SPs)].

Geographic distribution of boophilid ticks in communal grazing cattle in the north-eastern region of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

The boophilid ticks are regarded as highly adaptive tick species in tropical and subtropical regions and considered to be the most economically important ectoparasites to cattle worldwide. To that, a geographical survey to investigate the distribution of boophilid ticks on grazing cattle was conducted seasonally between October 2018 and September 2019 at Elundini, Senqu and Walter Sisulu Local Municipalities in the north-eastern region of the Eastern Cape Province (ECP). Ten cattle were selected randomly during the tick sampling at each locality.

Prevalence of serum antibodies of tick-borne diseases and the presence of Rhipicephalus microplus in communal grazing cattle in the north-eastern region of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.

A survey to determine the prevalence of tick-borne diseases (TBDs) and ticks infesting cattle was conducted in the communal areas of the north-eastern region of the Eastern Cape Province (ECP) between January 2019 and October 2019. Tick counts, packed cell volume (PCV), body condition scores (BCS), and serological test for TBDs were seasonally conducted in communally grazed cattle (n = 240) in Joe Gqabi district in two local municipalities (Elundini and Senqu). A standard indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was used to determine antibodies to Babesia bigemina, Babesia bovis, and Ehrlichia ruminantium and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed for antibodies to Anaplasma marginale detection.

Communal cattle farmer's knowledge, attitudes and practices on ticks (Acari: Ixodidae), tick control and acaricide resistance.

The aim of this study was to reveal communal farmer's knowledge, attitudes and practice on ticks and tick-borne diseases affecting cattle, tick control methods used and their knowledge on acaricide resistance. A total of 160 structured questionnaires are prepared and randomly administered to cattle farmers in Sinqu and Elundini communities in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Associations between the area, gender, age, employment, source of income, level of education and farming experience were statistically tested using Chi-square test.

Chemical and nutritional characteristics of United States soybeans and soybean meals.

Two experiments were conducted to determine U.S. soybean meal (SBM) variation.