The prevalence of serum antibodies to tick-borne infections in Mbale District, Uganda: the effect of agro-ecological zone, grazing management and age of cattle.

Between August and October 2000, a cross-sectional study was conducted in smallholder dairy farms in Mbale District, Uganda to assess the prevalence of ticks and tick-borne diseases under different grazing systems and agro-ecological zones and understand the circumstances under which farmers operated. A questionnaire was administered to obtain information on dairy farm circumstances and practices. A total of 102 farms were visited and sera and ticks were collected from 478 animals.

The impact of tick control on the productivity of indigenous cattle under ranch conditions in Uganda.

The impact of tick control on the productivity of indigenous cattle was investigated in three herds of East African shorthorn Zebu and Zebu x Ankole (Nganda) breeds, maintained under three tick management systems practised under ranch conditions: twice-a-week dipping, once-a-month dipping, and no tick control. The milk production and the growth rates of pre-weaned and post-weaned calves were monitored once a month over a period of 34 months. Milk offtake was 23% higher during the heavy rainy seasons than in the long dry seasons.

Population dynamics of ticks on indigenous cattle in a pastoral dry to semi-arid rangeland zone of Uganda.

Studies on seasonality and population dynamics of ticks on indigenous cattle and their crosses (calves) were carried out in Buruli Ranching Scheme, Nabiswera, Luwero district of Uganda on three treatment groups of animals: group 1 (twice a week dipping), group 2 (once a month dipping) and group 3 (no tick control). During this study, four major species of ticks of economic importance were recorded in decreasing order of abundance: Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, Amblyomma variegatum and Boophilus decoloratus. Of these ticks, a seasonal pattern of activity was only observed in R.

Control of tsetse flies in Uganda by dipping cattle in deltamethrin.

The effect of treating cattle with deltamethrin to control tsetse flies and ticks was investigated on 2 ranches 8 km apart in central Uganda where there is a high risk of trypanosomosis. This area had a moderate challenge of Glossina pallidipes. The cattle had very low challenge of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Amblyomma variegatum, Boophilus decolaratus and Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, due to regular treatment with dioxathion.